Yes, whether South Africa National Team (Bafana Bafana) is doing well or not but this country is a footballing nation. It’s been a busy year both in men’s and women’s football while AFCON and World Cup qualifiers also took place. What are the talking points?
Sundowns’ dominance
It was the fourth time consecutively for Mamelodi Sundowns to lift the DStv Premiership title last season (May 2021). Masandawana also found themselves ending the drought of MTN 8 after triumphing against Cape Town City in the final (September 2021). Apart from winning these titles, Bafana Ba Style have been dominant this year in almost all games they played.
ALSO SEE: DStv Premiership Standings 2021/22 Season
The famous FC Barcelona tiki-taka is being displayed by Downs’ calm midfield that includes Andile Jali, Rivaldo Coetzee Siphelele Mkhulise, and Themba Zwane. Within this year, the Brazilians were overpowered only two times in 90 minutes against Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu.
Hugo Broos’ appointment and the new Bafana
Just after the former Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki failed to lead the nation to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, he was sacked. SAFA decided to go for a European man this time around, finding unemployed Hugo Broos who was offered a job.
Broos made his intentions clear that he was going to overlook old players as he looks to build the future with the young and energetic lads.
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Broos means business as his so-called “new Bafana” has won 10, drew 2, and lost one of 13 games they’ve played under the Belgian. Quite frankly, before the World Cup qualifiers, no one gave SA a chance in their group but in the last matchday of group stages, everyone held their breath for Mzansi to go through. Who thought SA’s dream to go to Qatar would come close to reality? Taking into account the lack of experience, this New Bafana has done well so far.
The return of Percy Tau to Africa
A lot of criticism has been thrown over Percy Tau who left Brighton and Hove Albion at the beginning of this campaign. One would ask, Why he didn’t stay and fight for his place? Why not seek another team in Europe? Many have said that an early return to Africa makes it difficult for any player to get another opportunity in the future in Europe. Can Tau prove his critics wrong in the near future?
However, the former Sundowns forward has had a prosperous start in Egypt scoring five goals in his first nine games. He’s also won his first silverware (Caf Super Cup) with Egyptian giants, where he assisted for a goal and scored in the penalty shoot-out that saw them coming out victorious against Raja Casablanca.
Year of success for Sundowns’ ladies
You may continue being skeptical about women who’re super talented in football but they’re flourishing more. Sundowns ladies have been around for quite some time in the SASOL League before Hollywoodbets came through as a sponsor. The hard work they’ve put in is being evidenced by the success they achieved this year. Well, they’re treble winners!
They defended the Hollywoodbets Super League (which was Women’s national premier league before this season) that added to the COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions League and the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League they won. It cannot all be a fluke!
Soweto giants struggling
Better Orlando Pirates won MTN 8 last season under coach Josef Zinnbauer, Kaizer Chiefs haven’t lifted a cup since 2015. Both teams keep on producing roller-coaster results, consistency is what they need to bring back happy days. The two Soweto teams are the most supported in Southern Africa and when they’re both displeasing fans, football demand slumps.
Buccaneers have roped in Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids as interim co-coaches and have had fluctuations since taking over. While Chiefs welcomed back Stuart Baxter when the season started, though he had an uneven start to the new season but the team is more stable now.
