Bafana Bafana beware red-hot Luis Suarez!
Bafana beware red-hot Suarez!
Posted: 2010-03-16 10:52
Most South African fans will be familiar with Uruguay striker Diego Forlan and will view him as the major threat when they face up to Bafana Bafana in their 2010 World Cup Group A encounter at Loftus Stadium on June 16.
But while the veteran forward will be a worry, it is his strike-partner Luis Suarez who should create the most fear in the hearts of the Bafana defenders.
The 23-year-old Suarez has emerged as one of the hottest properties in Europe after his unbelievable displays for Ajax Amsterdam which have seen him notch an incredible 39 goals already this season in just 36 appearances!
It makes him easily the most prolific marksman in Europe this year, and some of the performances have been staggering.
He scored four goals in a Uefa Europa League match against Slovan Bratislava earlier in the season, and followed that up with another four-goal haul in the Dutch Eredivisie against VVV Venlo.
Just to prove it was no fluke, he scored four more against Roda JC in another Dutch top-flight match.
Impressive? Well he then netted SIX TIMES in a Dutch Cup game against WHC.
Cynics may want to point out that the standard of opposition is not the best, but bar the latter match, it is better than PSL level.
And what is more, you still have to put the ball in the back of the net, no matter who you are playing.
Just for good measure he scored for Uruguay in their 3-1 victory over Switzerland in a friendly international two weeks ago. He found the back of the net only five times in 17 appearances for Uruguay in qualifying for the World Cup, but it should be noted he is often used as a right or left winger rather than a central striker by national coach Oscar Tabarez.
Suárez burst onto the scene for Montevideo outfit Club Nacional de Football in the 2005/06 season where he helped them to the Uruguayan championship.
He was snapped up by Dutch side Groningen for the next season, but it soon became clear he was destined for bigger things and signed for Ajax in 2007.
Coach Martin Jol made him club captain at the start of the current campaign but it appears this will be his last in Holland. Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United are all ready to make a move for the player, who is expected to fetch at least R220-million in transfer fees for his club.
A good World Cup and that figure might be even more … Bafana beware.
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