Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Joel Santana, Bafana Bafana's coach, is so happy with the dramatic turn of events in the team that he has pledged not to tamper with the winning combination.
This was after Bafana Bafana restored their pride with a well deserved 4-1 win over Equatorial Guinea at Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday.
The win brought smiles back to the faces of many South Africans after Bafana Bafana shamed the country in their 2-0 defeat by Nigeria in Abuja a fortnight ago.
Commenting on their next game against Sierra Leone in Freetown on Saturday, Santana said: "I have no intention of changing it. I will stay with the same team."
Saturday's comprehensive win over Equatorial Guinea revived Bafana's hopes of qualifying for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola.
It seems the warning to Santana to do away with the defensive approach did not fall on deaf ears as the "Guitar Man" adopted a more attacking style.
Santana dropped the idea of a lone striker, this time round partnering Surprise Moriri with Thembinkosi Fanteni, and the pair did not disappoint.
Full marks to Tsepo Masilela and Bryce Moon who were outstanding, especially when they attacked from their respective left and right flanks.
Though the 73rd ranked Equatorial Guinea did not offer any serious threat, for a change it was great to see the 69th ranked 2010 World Cup hosts playing so well.
"We played good soccer and I'm very happy," said a clearly relieved Santana at a post-match media briefing boycotted by Equatorial Guinea.
"This is part of the preparations for 2010. The win today is good for the players, coach, people [of South Africa] and newspapers.
"Coach Santana can now get a massage," joked Santana, who avoided commenting on the controversial penalty scored by La Nzalang (the National Lightning).
In the Israel-based Fanteni, Bafana Bafana seem to have found an able replacement for the wayward Benni McCarthy.
Fanteni has also won the support of Santana.
"He's a good striker, Fanteni has good ideas when he is in possession. He creates problems for the opposition by running both on the left and right, which is good for us."
Bafana Bafana made their intentions clear as early as the 10th minute when Kagisho Dikgacoi scored his first goal with a superb long shot.
Moriri made it 2-0 in the 35th minute to grab his third Bafana Bafana goal after good work by man of the match Teko Modise, who put in a five-star display.
Bafana Bafana went further ahead in the 64th minute when Fanteni netted his first official Bafana Bafana goal.
La Nzalang scored their consolation goal from the penalty spot through Edjogo Juvenal in the 77th minute.
Dikgacoi completed his brace in the 89th minute.
Equatorial Guinea also had what looked like a legitimate goal by Juan Epitie ruled offside by Senegalese referee Samba Diouf.
no change to bafana
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Joel Santana, Bafana Bafana's coach, is so happy with the dramatic turn of events in the team that he has pledged not to tamper with the winning combination.
This was after Bafana Bafana restored their pride with a well deserved 4-1 win over Equatorial Guinea at Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday.
The win brought smiles back to the faces of many South Africans after Bafana Bafana shamed the country in their 2-0 defeat by Nigeria in Abuja a fortnight ago.
Commenting on their next game against Sierra Leone in Freetown on Saturday, Santana said: "I have no intention of changing it. I will stay with the same team."
Saturday's comprehensive win over Equatorial Guinea revived Bafana's hopes of qualifying for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Angola.
It seems the warning to Santana to do away with the defensive approach did not fall on deaf ears as the "Guitar Man" adopted a more attacking style.
Santana dropped the idea of a lone striker, this time round partnering Surprise Moriri with Thembinkosi Fanteni, and the pair did not disappoint.
Full marks to Tsepo Masilela and Bryce Moon who were outstanding, especially when they attacked from their respective left and right flanks.
Though the 73rd ranked Equatorial Guinea did not offer any serious threat, for a change it was great to see the 69th ranked 2010 World Cup hosts playing so well.
"We played good soccer and I'm very happy," said a clearly relieved Santana at a post-match media briefing boycotted by Equatorial Guinea.
"This is part of the preparations for 2010. The win today is good for the players, coach, people [of South Africa] and newspapers.
"Coach Santana can now get a massage," joked Santana, who avoided commenting on the controversial penalty scored by La Nzalang (the National Lightning).
In the Israel-based Fanteni, Bafana Bafana seem to have found an able replacement for the wayward Benni McCarthy.
Fanteni has also won the support of Santana.
"He's a good striker, Fanteni has good ideas when he is in possession. He creates problems for the opposition by running both on the left and right, which is good for us."
Bafana Bafana made their intentions clear as early as the 10th minute when Kagisho Dikgacoi scored his first goal with a superb long shot.
Moriri made it 2-0 in the 35th minute to grab his third Bafana Bafana goal after good work by man of the match Teko Modise, who put in a five-star display.
Bafana Bafana went further ahead in the 64th minute when Fanteni netted his first official Bafana Bafana goal.
La Nzalang scored their consolation goal from the penalty spot through Edjogo Juvenal in the 77th minute.
Dikgacoi completed his brace in the 89th minute.
Equatorial Guinea also had what looked like a legitimate goal by Juan Epitie ruled offside by Senegalese referee Samba Diouf.