South Africa’s men’s Olympic coach Owen Da Gama has opted for the muscle‚ though lesser mobility‚ of Kwanda Mngonyama to beef up his midfield in Sunday night’s potentially make or break second Group A game against Denmark in Brasilia (midnight SA time‚ 7pm in Brazil).

In fact‚ South Africa started with a 2-1 defeat against Japan‚ bounced back spectacularly against Brazil‚ then blew their chance to reach the quarterfinals with a 2-1 defeat against Slovakia.

The coach’s point was made though.

Da Gama might not have said it in these words‚ but the fact is there have been too many one-off results by South Africa on the international stage against the big teams without a follow-through. The result has been like a cyclist on a cycling machine‚ rather than a bicycle … slowly going nowhere.

The U-23s’ qualification for Rio 2016 alone has been a further indication of the tentatively upturning fortunes of South African football after a decade of gloom. Beating Brazil added to it.

The experience has probably already set up the careers of Abbubaker Mobara‚ Rivaldo Coetzee and Keagan Dolly.

But for a genuine turnaround‚ Young Bafana now need to not choke against Denmark.

“I think it’s going to be a very difficult game against Denmark as well. They are a very good team. And we will never underestimate any team‚” Da Gama said.

“We told the boys after Brazil there’s no celebrations‚ there’s nothing of that kind now. We must go back and work harder‚ and go and face Denmark.

“We have got a little bit of experience of 2000 in Sydney where we beat Brazil and lost our next two games.

“I think we’ve got that experience‚ and believe we should not underestimate the other teams. It’s going to be very hard and we’ve got to go back to the drawing board‚ and work hard‚ and plan as best we can.”

The inclusion of Mothobi Mvala – who had just one U-23 cap – against Brazil seemed risky. The panning the Highlands Park player has received on social media for getting himself sent off with 31 minutes to go seems unfortunate.

Mvala clearly has potential judging by the manner he roughed up Brazil’s runners for the first hour‚ perhaps crucial in SA getting any result at all‚ even if his dismissal then almost cost his side the game.

Mngonyama’s inclusion in place of suspended Mvala has a similar risk element to it. The immobile Maritzburg United centreback might be exposed in midfield by the technical‚ precise passing of the Danes.

Deolin Mekoa has been pushed from left-back‚ where U-23 stalwart Tebogo Moerane has returned‚ into central midfield‚ apparently in a more advanced role than Mngonyama. If in defence Mekoa drops back and supports his Maritzburg teammate‚ South Africa should be safe.

Mekoa’s introduction to the midfield‚ though‚ means Gift Motupa has been pushed into a second striking role – in place of Orlando Pirates team-mate Menzi Masuku – that he has not always been completely comfortable with.

Denmark coach Niels Frederiksen has taken the core of the team that reached the semifinals of the European Under-21 Championship last year to the Olympics.

The Danes laboured noticeably in the heat and humidity of their opening 0-0 draw against Iraq‚ played from a 1pm kickoff‚ and will be grateful of a 7pm start against SA.

South Africa starting line-up: Itumeleng Khune; Abbubaker Mobara‚ Mulomowandau Mathoho‚ Rivaldo Coetzee‚ Tebogo Moerane; Maphosa Modiba‚ Kwanda Mngonyama‚ ‚ Deolin Mekoa‚ Keagan Dolly (capt.); Gift Motupa‚ Lebogang Mothiba

Substitutes: Jody February‚ Tercious Malepe‚ Phumlani Ntshangase‚ Tyroane Sandows‚ Menzi Masuku‚ Tashreeq Morris — TMG Digital