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Under-23s let it slip again against Gabon

Under-23s let it slip again

Posted: Nov 30 2011

South Africa will have to go into their final match at the CAF Under-23 Championships to determine their Olympic fate following a 1-1 draw against Gabon on Wednesday night.

‘Baby Bafana’ drew their opening match against Ivory Coast 1-1, and it was a similar situation as they once again took the lead against the Gabonese, but then lost concentration and conceded late on.

And that will be such a bitter pill for Shakes Mashaba to swallow after a game in which the dominated possession for large parts, and also had numerous clear-cut goalscoring chances.

Sameegh Doutie had a goalbound shot blocked on 20 minutes before Ace Bhengu hit the upright with his diving header later on.

However, there was no stopping Mandla Masango’s headed effort five minutes before the break – the Kaizer Chiefs man finishing off after Rodney Ramolega’s deflected cross came his way.

Substitute Bhongu Jayiya then missed a free header from six yards out just past the hour-mark, and South Africa were made to pay for that when some poor marking from a corner allowed Lengoualama to head home with 10 minutes remaining.

Gabon had goalkeeper Mikiela sent off five minutes from time for a bad challenge on Jabulani Shongwe, but some serious time-wasting and inept officiating meant South Africa didn’t have a chance to capitalize on the advantage.

SA U23 starting XI: Brilliant Khuzwayo - Phumelele Bhengu, Sibusiso Mxoyana, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Gladwin Shitolo - Thandani Ntshumayelo, Sameehg Doutie, Mandla Masango (Zulu 67), Jabulani Shongwe - Riaan Eugene (Jayiya 54), Rodney Ramagalela (Khumalo 60)

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Siya.polo : 2011-11-30 22:23

Lets support shakes and his boys,many people want see him fail

links : 2011-11-30 22:24

Shakes is killing us.why stop attacking after scoring.no red card this time.what is the excuse?

Jackie : 2011-11-30 22:28

Boys u beta cum back home if u happen 2 nt knw what u r der 4. Sidiniwe amadraws surely if it is 2 difficult 4 u buya khaya nd stp embarassing us. Siyakhathala!

Zakumi.Com : 2011-11-30 22:31

Well done under 23 boys draw z not a bad score z better than lost.TTM i hate this name baby bafana maybe that why we not get a win there in morocco pls z better call them under 23 than this ugly name

afrika : 2011-11-30 23:28

Well done boyz! Ppl stop blaming Shakes rather blame SAFA and Khoza for not taking our junior teams seriously! Most of the players are here at home instead of helping the team to qualify for Olympics to name just a Jali is buzy fighting with ppl, Xulu, Ndulula nd many more thy r here at home, so what do u expect from the team while playing with no name players.

Tearz : 2011-11-30 23:31

how old is lucky khune ukuze kufakwe yena na

2pac: 2011-12-01 00:16

@ Tearz lucky khune is your age broe can`t u c he is playing with his father in the chiefs shirt... to all those tht are blaming Bra Shakes I got one msg 4 u stay away frm nyaope....coz its phuqing up your big heads... bra shakes always field all the so called stars tht he has but they can`t win I mean most of these boys are playing in the psl..so wat mst Shakes do nw ? get on the field and play?? come on maaaan

Gazlam: 2011-12-01 01:07

1. SAFA hw do u hire pensioners to run development?
2. SAFA hw do u afford 2 have best boys stay behind Xulu,Jali,etc?
3. SHAKES hw do u defend 1-0 shoreline?
4. Sies nonke.

Diehardbucs : 2011-12-01 01:09

The only blame i can put to Shakes is why he is not fielding Drogba?The player who put them where they are?The player who is currently holding a scoring record?The player who can score 4 goals in a single match for national team?Here mr Mashaba must have a very strong explanation.

nsilulu : 2011-12-01 05:11

diehardbucs u mst try n familarise urself mfana with newspapers b4 rushing 2 write thngz here. Ndulula is injured so thats y engadlali. .

Diehardbucs : 2011-12-01 05:46

@nsilulu:.Thank you so much for letting me aware of this.At 1st i heard he was dropped coz of injury though he himself was denying being injured.Then i heard he was called again & was with the team in Morocco & i thought he was ok.Thank you again.

Brown: 2011-12-01 07:17

There is no slip here, Whether SA won or not. But they have to win agains Egypt to qualify. I personally would not have preferred them to win yesterday & goes to Egypt with a draw mentality. Now they have to be focussed & their chances have improved because egypt will be nervous too. Had egypt won yesterday, they were going to be more composed knowing that they have qualified. Egypt will go to this game with a draw mentality.

Halejoetsoe: 2011-12-01 08:14

@nsilulu and Diehardbucs combined: Come on guyz, how do you expect Shakes to field Drogba Ndulula while he is at home warming Pirates bench? He was but your team recalled the player claiming 'injury'. In South Africa, smtimes players are injured when called for national duty yet injury-free when they do oen club businesses!
But we all know SA has been like for decades guys. Black South Africans can be cruel to their fellow Black Countrymen! it is nt new even during hard times of appatheid some Black South africans made it harder for brothers!

People_Lie: 2011-12-01 08:22

Yah neh poor officiating again gabon players waisted the whole added time faking injuries but the refree let it slip.

Baby bafana tlttltltltl play very well they can beat egypt, to be honest ndulula could have scored if he was there. This guys can win this tournament they just have to continue beleiving in themselves.

People_Lie: 2011-12-01 08:31

Yah neh poor officiating again gabon players waisted the whole added time faking injuries but the refree let it slip.

Baby bafana tlttltltltl play very well they can beat egypt, to be honest ndulula could have scored if he was there. This guys can win this tournament they just have to continue beleiving in themselves.

Tshepo : 2011-12-01 08:33

I luv SA soccer but wen it cums 2 presure en vital game dey always dissapoint, i will not be at OR Tambo on sunday cause m very dissapointed, u should have won dose games...!!!

People_Lie: 2011-12-01 08:51

anyone with the score of ivory cost egypt game

Skepe Mketule: 2011-12-01 09:14

People_Lie: 2011-12-01 08:51


Egypt 0 IC 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Shakes I thought you have experience of these games, you just lost my confidence, your preparations were very poor, secondly I have a problem with you , you seem to have attitude with certain players, as a former player yourself, you should know players are troublesome, you gone through that experience yourself, eg CR7 , Tevez, Rooney are some of the big headed top players, but that does nt mean you need to dump them , Iam referring to Kermit Erasmus in this case , why you did nt consider him since he is nt oftenely used at SSU

vutomim@gmail.com: 2011-12-01 09:26

we'll rally behing the boys always. They are our only hope of qualifying in a prestige competition. Now what they need to do is beat Egypt and we will be through to the next round, clear as that

Mgugudi: The Treble Addict: 2011-12-01 09:39

Until we stop celebration of mediocrity SA will never grow. Why are we congratulating Shakes for a draw. Oops, we did the same when we shokolozared out of the nations cup as well as when we drew a friendly match against Ivory coast.

KidKudu7: 2011-12-01 09:54

We still stand a good chance to qualify for the semi-finals & the Olympics as well. Keep your heads up boys, I know you will make it!!!

People_Lie: 2011-12-01 10:16

No one is celebrating a draw here, we are all disapointed unfortunately that is what happened we drew and we have to live with it.

But to be honest under 23s play much better football than Bafana, I am sure they can beat the senior team. I was watching that game with some foreigners yesterday, they were quite the whole game up until gabon scored and they started talking too much playing down SA footbal and ****.

My opinion is that it is wrong the boys went that far because they did well. They play to win they are playing a very tough competion. Even if they do not qualify I wont blame them I still feel we needed rantie or ndulula there anyway politics is part of our daily lifes.

I am dissapointed with people who want to see the team fail so that they can boast their egos by talking a whole lot of dust. This under 23 has never let us down we just have to support them and hope they win their final game, rather blame Bafana players not this guys.

Bra Aubs: 2011-12-01 11:27

boring game, boring tactics... not sure why they are playing long *****? Shakes has lost the plot its better to fail here then go and get humuliated at the olympics

9000 Seconds (Precision Engineering): 2011-12-01 12:08

Shakes Mashaba, eish, wats wrong with BEE coaches and defending. Pitso and Mashaba are begining to piss me off. Mashaba your team plays better. Should we hire Dollezar?? Attack Attack Attack

Mphap: 2011-12-01 21:38

tlogelang bra Shakes Mashaba pls....he knows exactly what he is doing because we're going to qualify, whether mang wa nyaka goba gaa nyake...re ilo goja Egypt lena le lebeleleng!!! Boys, south africa is behind you.....