Ethiopia game is a must win for Bafana

Bafana Bafana takes on Ethiopia in their 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifier in Rustenburg on Sunday. Bafana has been playing a disappointing brand of football and have failed to qualify for the past three African Cup of Nation, constantly blaming the conditions and the way they are treated when they visit Africa

Bafana's good record in Rustenburg
More than anything else, the Ethiopia game gives Bafana a chance to redeem themselves and show that they can still be seen as the powerhouse of the African football they were a decade ago. A good record that Bafana has in rustenburg(Bafana has won six of their previous seven games in the North West), must at least give them confidence going into this Group A encouter.

Pitso has regulars
In the past ,Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has come out and complained in the media about certain overseas players not getting enough game time but now the interesting thing about the squad he has assembled is that most of the players,both local and abroad, are regulars in their respective teams and some of them have delivered outstanding perfomances in the past season.

With that said ,one player who must be giving Pitso sleepless nights is Bongani Khumalo. When khumalo moved from Supersport for Tottenham, he was probably the best player in the league but he has since went on to England to warm the bench. He has been on loan to championship side reading and played only four games before he got injured.

Apart from the Khumalo nightmare,Pitso has an option of going with newly signed Kaizer chiefs defender Morgan Gould and Bloemfontein Celtic's Mulomowandau Eric Mathoho. The media has referred to the pair as the 'twin towers'.
In the centre, he has captain Steven Pienaar,Reneilwe Letsholonyane,Teko Modise,July Mahlangu,Daylon Classen,Andile Jali,Oupa Manyisa and Thanduyise Kuboni who are all regulars in their respective teams.

No Sangweni?
Pitso might be spoiled for choice in the midfield department but the absence of Orlando Pirates defender Siyabnga Sangweni must really be something very difficult to deal with for the Bafana coach and the players. Sangweni does not only bring his defencive qualities to the field,but also his ability to score crucial goals as well as leadership skills.

Sangweni hurt his ankle in Bafana training and has been replaced by Mamelodi Sundowns’ Siyanda Xulu,who has great talent but it remains to be seen if he can fill the big boots of 'Nsimbi' as Sangweni is commonly known in the local football circles.

Mosimane must be praying that by the time Bafana plays Botswana, 7 days after the Ethiopia game, Sangweni would have recovered from the injury as Botswana is a tougher team compared to Ethiopia

Bhele's comeback
Moroka Swallows striker Siyabonga Nomvethe makes a return to the national team setup in the Ethiopia game and most peopl;,including fans,the technical team and his teammates,have been anticipating his return.
Nomvethe,who has just been named South African Footballer of the Year, PSL's Player of the Season,Players Player of the Season and Top Goal Scorer, comes back to the national team after almost two years of absence.The former Udinese striker netted 20 goals this past season.

Which formation to play
Siyabonga Nomvethe is probably the player shouldering the responsibility of scoring goals. To get the best out of Nomvethe,Pitso must put him alongside another striker,be it Katlego Mphela,Tokelo Rantie,Lehlohonolo Majoro or Thulani Serero.

Bafana has always had their best perfomances playing the 4-4-2 formation with a target man and it will only make sense for Pitso to re-introduce the formation if he wants to keep his job and the 2014 vision alive. PSL champions, Orlando Pirates have proved in the past two seasons that playing with two strikers and having wing play actually pays off and has always been South African football culture.

The time has now come for Pitso and his charges to stop playing the "blame" game and actually go out there and give it their all,respect the Bafana jersey and make sure they win all their home games as nothing less than a win will be unacceptable to the nation at large.