Mashaba is way offside
Lungani Zama says Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba should know there is only one winner when you take on the media.
|||Shakes Mashaba is running the risk of becoming the Peter de Villiers of South African football. In fact, he is a lot closer to that caricature of the former Bok coach than he would like to think.
Ominously, the only difference between him and “PdV” is that the rugby man at least knew how to get his team to win when it mattered. Most of the time.
Oh, and the fact that Mr De Villiers is currently unemployed. Mashaba, though, may have that in common with him soon, if his latest ramblings and lack of results are anything to go by.
At the worst possible time, the Bafana coach has taken his eye off the ball, and is busy mouthing off on matters that have sweet FA to do with improving his side.
Mashaba has acquired a bizarre habit of playing one-upmanship with the media, as if it will mask the dog’s breakfast he has made of the national team job.
“You must be sad we beat Senegal today!”
“Yes, Bra Shakes, just a pity you couldn’t rise up for the Mauritania affair.”
A man as experienced as Mashaba should know there is only one winner when you take on the media. After all, the hype of him knowing the “South African” way better than any other coach is a misnomer. He has proved to be more underwhelming than his predecessors.
Lately, Mashaba spends most of his time trying to deflect attention from his failings as a coach, by trying to create a media Mafia against him.
The truth of the matter is Mashaba has given precious little for anyone to put a positive spin on.
The primary job of the media is to voice the concern of the wider community. What fancy jacket the national coach is wearing is of no consequence, and the fact that Mashaba still has time to entertain such mundane elements – in the midst of a crisis – speaks volumes about his priorities.
The worst thing about all of this is that this tenure was supposed to be the term that arrested the slide of the national team into mediocrity.
A measure of just how pathetic his side has become was borne out of the absolute lack of vitriol aimed his way when they slumped to a defeat to that great footballing power, mighty Mauritania.
Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers recently explained that he had all the time in the world for those who criticised him and his team, because the mere fact people were complaining at least showed they still care.
The day those groans and moans go silent, De Villiers – the blond one, not the loud one – said he wouldn’t want to be a part of that team anymore, because it wouldn’t mean anything to anyone. Indeed, the debates around the Boks and the Proteas may have grown louder because their players are still worth caring about, their progression still worth arguing about.
There was a time when Bafana meant the world to the heartbeat of this nation. There was a pride, and national concern every time they stepped on to the field. Sadly, the only swells of pride Bafana will invoke will come next February, when we wearily reflect just how long ago it was that they were truly part of the global football conversation.
And all the while, Mashaba is faffing on about fashion statements, even as the nation is increasingly giving less of a fig about his team. Against considerable odds, Bafana’s latest Pied Piper has found deplorable new lows for his side to plunge to.
Bafana’s stock has never been lower, and Mashaba increasingly doesn’t look like he is equipped for a salvage mission. After all, he wouldn’t want to get his dainty jacket dirty?
The Twitteratis have noted that, far from moving Bafana back towards “OMG”, Bafana’s answer to “PdV” has taken them to “SMH”.
Shakes Mashaba’s Hopeless, that is? - Sunday Independent