Katlego Mphela is called ‘Killer’, but the striker will be hoping to breathe life into the stuttering South Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Angola Wednesday.
Bafana Bafana (The Boys) performed woefully in a goalless tournament-opening Group A game against debutants Cape Verde last Saturday with the team from a group of 10 tiny west-coast islands missing the best scoring chance.
The scoreline emphasised the biggest of many headaches facing silver-haired 56-year-old South Africa coach Gordon Igesund — the inability of his team to put the ball in the net.
Since Max Mahlangu converted a 75th-minute penalty in a 3-1 warm-up win over Malawi in Durban on December 22, South Africa have gone 285 minutes without scoring against Norway and Algeria in warm-ups and Cape Verde.
The drought is threatening to derail the Bafana Bafana title challenge and leave them in danger of becoming the first hosts since Tunisia 19 years ago not to make the knockout stage.
Mphela from Pretoria club Mamelodi Sundowns has averaged a goal every couple of games for the national team, but long-term injuries have curtailed his international career.
He came on as a second-half substitute against Cape Verde in place of ineffective Lehlohonolo Majoro and is expected to make the starting line-up for the crucial match against Angola in Indian Ocean city Durban.
“To come on as a substitute was difficult for me, but I think our boys were nervous against Cape Verde and did not create enough chances,” he said ahead of a clash set to attract a sell-out 60,000 crowd to Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“We score as a team and everyone needs to come to the party and get goals. That is how we will win the competition again,” Mphela said, referring to the 1996 Cup of Nations triumph of then-debutants South Africa.
The 28-year-old, 1.82-metre striker said the squad had to match the patience and composure shown by Mali, who took 84 minutes before Seydou Keita scored the goal that earned a 1-0 win over hyper-cautious Niger in Group B last Sunday.
“Mali kept on going and eventually scored — that is what we need to do against Angola. If we keep on working hard, the goals will come,” was the assurance from Mphela.
Bafana Bafana and the Black Antelopes have met three times in the Cup of Nations with South Africa winning 1-0 at home in 1996 while the other two games in Burkina Faso and Ghana were drawn.
Striker with 'killer' touch offers S. Africa hope
