Arm-chair soccer critics from Phomolong in Mookgophong and Mampatile in Bela-Bela — predominantly black by race — are more than convinced Bafana Bafana is ready to beat Mexico in the opening match next weekend.

On the flip side, the more upmarket residents of the suburbs — mostly white by race — cautiously ask the question: are we really ready to take on the world? To try and analyze the chances of Bafana Bafana, a number of scenarios need to come into play.

And the very first of these is the question of the levels from which our players emerge. Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Aleberto Pareirra has a large contingent of his final squad made up of locally-based players.

That is, the majority of the players have been drawn from the local ABSA Premiership. The next question is: What is the level of the local crop of players? The answer is that these players were drawn from a league which has, over many years, failed to produce champions worthy of competing at the Orange CAF Champions League.

Just recently ABSA Premiership three-time champions, Supersport United, were sent packing from the CAF Champions League knockout stages by a relatively unknown Heartlands of Nigeria. Bafana Bafana key players, such as goal-keeper Itumeleng Khune in the last line of defence, and striker Katlego Mphela, could not be said to have been tested regularly at the highest level of world football.

That opportunity fizzled out when Bafana Bafana were bundled out from the early stages of the Orange Africa Cup Nations.

So, we cannot even be said to be of a standard comparable to the best on the African continent.

In Mexico, Bafana Bafana is up against a squad over-flowing with international pedigree. Itumeleng Khune and his defenders should be alert to lethal striker Javier Hernandez, who takes on the World Cup stage oozing with confidence, after being recently signed by no less than Alex Ferguson at English Premiership giants, Manchester United. Hernandez is bound to form a deadly combination with Carlos Vela, singed by Arsenal at the tender age of 17 in 2005.

Bafana Bafana’s Katlego Mphela and whoever partners him in attack, will have to find a way past experienced defender Raphael Marquez of Spanish La Liga giants, Barcelona.

Let’s be realistic, a draw against Mexico would be a very good result indeed.

— Johnny Masilela, Limpopo Beat

© Die Pos