Bartlett on Bafana's biggest problem

Former Bafana striker and captain Shaun Bartlett
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Shaun Bartlett, Bafana Bafana, 2010 World Cup

Bartlett on Bafana's biggest problem

Posted: 2010-03-05 12:22

"I don't see a leader in the Bafana Bafana team" – these are the words of former Bafana striker and captain Shaun Bartlett.

Bartlett, who was capped 72 times at senior international level, with a return of 28 goals, tells KickOff.com that his biggest concern ahead of the World Cup has to be that there are still question marks over Aaron Mokoena's captaincy.

"Steven Pienaar is our best player at the moment and I hear some say perhaps he should be the captain… there is a big question mark over Aaron, because he is not playing as he should at Portsmouth and the coach (Carlos Alberto Parreira) has said in the past that there are certain requirements of making the squad. You got to be fit and you got to play regularly but we have to wait and see if there will be a few exceptions or not," he says.

"My biggest problem with the current squad and this is not to sound negative about the players it is just that I don't see a leader in that squad, that's our biggest problem. In the past Neil Tovey was the captain but you could count on at least seven players on the day to lead the team, those who had the ability to be leaders. But unfortunately we don't have that in this team today. That's my biggest concern," Bartlett says.

Asked to comment on Aaron Mokoena's weaknesses as captain, Bartlett says, "I'm not sure if I should comment on that, because you never criticize another professional player. I just think Mokoena needs to be more commanding. He is a very quiet person by nature but so was I. Being captain of the national team changed me. The people close to me will tell you I was never outspoken, but as captain you got to stand up for your players," he says.

Tiyani wa ka Mabasa


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Recent Comments (19) :

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 12:59

dont be jelouse, ok then let the scientist open your eyes. Nkosi,Fernandez,Morris,ZUMA & "A.MOKOENA" have all played in the Biggest leagues in Europe, now are you saying they are more gifted than MODISE.


-Did you know Pienaar as an attacking middlefielder hasnt scored a goal for Bafana Bafana in 4 years

-Did you know in 8 years for Bafana Bafana Pienaar only scored 2 goals.

-Did you know in 3 years Modise has scored 9 goals.

-Did you know Doctor Khumalo also scored a total of 9 goals for Bafana Bafana, but he only did that in 9 years as copaired to Modise with 3.

-Did you know Teko averages more goals per year for his National Team than Pienaar,Zidane,Ronaldinho & Doctore Khumalo.


-Did you know Teko averages more goals per year for his National Team than Pienaar,Zidane,Ronaldinho & Doctore Khumalo..


-Did you know Teko got a higher Castrol Index rating than Pienaar & Robinho for confed cup.

-Did you know according to FIFA technical reports for Confed Cup, Modises had more passes & 78% accuracy as compaired to Pienaar with 75% accuracy.
I did not invent this data, its there for everyone to see.


This is a fact not my opinion, you can verify if it makes you happy..."Teko 'Zidane' Modise is the living god of SA football, Pienaar & Shaba are blessed to have lived in his time" - Prof Matwetwe

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:00

I would like to Congratulade Perreira For preparing Teko to become a Captain on june 2010. Let him be the Captain in all friendly matches until june 2010WC so that he will be strong & Matured enough to lead us. Although some will say Pienaar. Which Team did Pienaar ever Captain? none. Pienaar Never Captain any team. Only Teko who knows how to handle pressure Teko is going through hard trials of becoming a Captain. watch the space!!!Given Much criticism he got from his home country, I can assure you that Teko is strong Mentally & physically. he can stand a heat . Bravo mr Coach. Shapa Modise shapaaaa!!!

Criteria how the Captain Armband selected: 1. A player who behave on and off-field. A player who can stand Criticism. A player who is strong mentally and physical. Teko has all this qualities. Unlike Pienaar who is being caught drunk and driving or pushing prostitutes. Teko has dealt with all dark the forces(soccerladuma & kickoff combined) who wanted him to demise

Shapa the Navigator shapaaaa!!!!


as For Bartlet N!xxxxxxxx

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:02

Bartlent hehehehehe

Do you mean Pienaar does not deserve Armband?

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:04

Player dont get Captain through perfomance. We look at many things. Pienaar does not have a good behaviour and he dont have experiance of being a Captain. finish and Klaar. Teko must lead the gravy train.

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:04

bafuwetho: Peace magents

Steven Pinaar is a good player but in the Bafana-Bafana he is highly overrated. He has never done anything good for his country and should not wear jersey no 10 at the 2010 world cup. Just because he is playing in England doesn’t make him the best among the best.

Teko has proven himself numerously that he is ready to die for Bafana Bafana. He has scored and created lots of goals in a short period of time. We should not be jealousy and give credit were is due. With Modise we have won couple of games and as for Pinaar I’ve never seen anything special about him except to say he plays for Everton.

Pinaar is even jealous of Modise, I’ve seen him in the confederations cup he couldn’t pass the ball to Teko. He is so afraid of him because he knew how famous Teko is.


Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:05

Many people dont know that To become a Captain is like someone who wants to become a Pastor,or Sangoma or King, they must go through some hard process. So, does Teko, not Pienaar.

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:09

Bartlet is really Confused


Criteria how the Captain Armband selected:
1. A player who behave on and off-field.
2. A player who can stand Criticism.
3. A player who is strong mentally and physical.
4. An encouragously player.

Teko has all this qualities. Unlike Pienaar who is being caught drunk and driving or pushing prostitutes.He also play for himself not for the team.

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:19

Bafana Bafana never loose a single match when Teko is Captain. This bartlet is ut of order.

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:24

The dark forces"Kickoff". Teko is going to be the Captain. no matter what.

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:38

Kickoff Keep on Campaining for Piennar. The navigator is going to be a Captain.

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:55

Kickoff readers Lets Compare Teko and Pienaar. We must divide Bafana Camp, coz we r already divided. I support Teko bcoz of his commitment, skills, passion, distribution, shooting, moving forward, creating space, supporting other player etc. Who do u support? and give reasons why? who do you will lead us?

SIBUSISO: 2010-03-05 14:04

Soccer Critic ( Tivani ): 2010-03-05 13:55

hehehehe!!! You must have seen something special about Teko.

Stonza: 2010-03-05 14:44

SIBUSISO: 2010-03-05 14:04
So do i think so....do you think this guy maybe gets the crumbs of McD burges when teko is done eating!!!??
or he gets the honer of cleaning his boots...
or mayb he is mrs modise!!!jst stuf going thru my mind!!!
1 more question...
did you knw Teko will not go play in Europe? due to his lack of form?

Pete: 2010-03-05 14:44

Shaun is just not in the position to say this, but we all know that Mokoena should be left out of that squad, or atleast used only as a reserve option.

The captain issue, Pienaar proved himself at the Confed Cup by getting the team motivated enuff to fight. He did so by leading the fight and working hard. Out of all the selected players, Pienaar is the best option. He is most definately our most valued and important player . . .so why not treat him like our most valued asset and give him the arm-band. He has played with a long list of the players that we will be facing, so who else can advise about them more than him.

Benni, only if he is fully fit, injury free and hungry to play . . .he would be my second choice.

S\'busiso: 2010-03-05 15:19

"I don't see a leader in the Bafana Bafana team" absolutely right Shaun.Mokoena is a fluke.

Andy: 2010-03-05 15:44

Portsmouth midfielder Aaron Mokoena insists his team-mates have not yet thrown in the towel on their hopes of avoiding the drop.

Pompey are currently bottom of the table, five points adrift of Wolves and facing the threat of a nine-point deduction for entering administration.

Although few give Pompey a chance of beating the drop the South African ace insists everyone will fight until it is mathematically impossible.

The former Blackburn midfielder believes it is important for everyone to stay professional and try to enjoy themselves until the summer.

Big relief
"The good thing at the moment is at least we know where we stand with administration. That's a big relief," he told the Portsmouth News.

"We just have to try to get ourselves back in the Premier League again next year, but it is not over, we still have a lot of games to play.

"For me personally, I hope everybody connected with the club, especially the players, fights until the last moment, the last game.

"We need to show our professionalism, we need to make sure our fans enjoy each and every game we play from now until the end of the season."

Victory in their FA Cup clash with Birmingham would give Pompey a much-needed cash boost, something Mokoena insists the players are aware of.


Fighting spirit
"There is no question about fighting spirit in the dressing room," he continued. "We have brilliant players, the character is unbelievable.

"There was a point where we never got paid but we kept coming into training and giving it all and that shows what amazing players we have.

"I can really say the fans have played a massive role so far and it is about what we can do for them.

"We know how important this cup is now and how important this league is still.

"I have not lost hope. The situation we are in is difficult, but we just have to fight it until the end. We are not going to give up now."

xxxxx I dont know whats more should mokoena do...he left blackburn and within weeks he was made captain a feat which has only beeen achieved by Rhoo yet he's not good enough, nx man..Pienaar is drunkard....Teko deliberately missed the derby!!! can u imagine Messi going awol before match againsts Real Madrid.

Bartlett shut up Im comfartible with Mokoena..he the most dedicated footballer RSA ever produced maybe the beef is that he didnt play for Chiefs or Pirates!

Nx hypocrites!

Pearl : 2010-03-05 16:22

Stonza

Lmgdao...u gave me a good laf there hehehehehe

Bonga: 2010-03-07 11:49

this is so untrue

Let me tell u Mr Shaun/Shona(watever ur name is),regardless of wat/hw Aaron plays bt d truth of d matter is he's a true leader,u cn go n ask any1 in dat squad he 'll tell u d same think im telling u.To all those who're screamin' 4 Pienaar 2 take over 4rm Aaron:all i cn sy is,go 2 hell.konje does he hv leadership skills?(a big NO)....whch team has he captained b4?.....(nt even under 23)jst bcos he's playin' well doesn't mean he cn b a captain/b awarded 4 hs perfomance,if dat d case ur Messi wuld've been a captain a long tym ago.im nt soundin' negative,bt im jst tellin' it lyk it is!!!!2 soccer-critic u r d man(u told thm d truth abt Teko,hate hm or luv hm)

Waza: 2010-03-08 19:48

SHAUN SHOULD KNOW BETTER UNLESS HE'S DRIVEN BY JEALOUSY. AARON IS BEEN INJURED HENCE IS CURRENT NOT IN THE TEAM. AARON IS PORTSMOUTH CAPTAIN & SHAUN SHOULD KNOW THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT COMES WITH CAPTAINING THE PREMIERSHIP CLUB IN ENGLAND SINCE HE PLAYED AND SCORED LOTS OF GOALS LIKE BENNI IN THE PREMIERSHIP, LOL. SHAWN MUST DO HIS RESEARCH WELL BEFORE COMMENTING ABOUT FELLOW PROFESSIONAL OR LETS FORMER COLLEAGUE. AARON IS BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK INTERNATIONALLY THAT WOULD MAKE ANY SOUTH AFRICAN JUDGING BY WHERE HE COME'S FROM TO HAVING DINNER WITH THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND. FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW MR BARTLETT.

* http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124321360

* http://www.mirror.co.uk/video/sport/2010/03/04/aaron-mokoena-visits-10-downing-street-115875-22085525/

* http://topics.treehugger.com/photo/0cQq1e05Y7dPa