The championship chat: Stuart Baxter on Mashemaite, Khune, SAFA, referees... and that dodgy start

Title winner: Stuart Baxter

THE opening sentences of my post-championship chat with Stuart Baxter were, as I promised, the most difficult. An apology. Here’s how it went.

ME: “Stuart, how’s it going? Must have been hectic after Polokwane! Well done mate, never in doubt!”

BAXTER: “Yup, it’s been busy. Hey, I had this guy here, think you know him, keeps asking another question. And another! We’re on the road to Mbombela. It’s been great… all the fans…”

ME: “Look, before we say anything, I’ve got to apologise Stuart. We’ve spoken a couple of times during the season but there’s something I have to say. At the start, all that stuff about your CV and the 4-1 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns, I jumped on that bandwagon. And you proved me wrong.”

BAXTER: “Not a problem, honestly. You’re always very positive. I always like positivity. Forget it, we’ve done the job. No problem at all.”

Phew.

After that, it was fun. The current PSL is blessed with a number of articulate, easy-to-chat-to coaches. Roger de Sa, Steve Khompela, Clive Barker, Gavin Hunt, Zeca Marques. Baxter’s right up there.

“Look, it’s been brilliant. I was locked in the presidential suite because I was suspended at the Peter Mokabe (where Chiefs drew 1-1 to clinch the title on Tuesday against SuperSport United) so I couldn’t soak up the atmosphere until the end.

“But once I got down there, it was magnificent. The AmaKhosi (pronounced in the British manner) are wonderful people.”

I mentioned the gathering of Motaungs. How, finally, the family business had got together for the nation with Jessica, Bobby and Kaizer Junior taking it in turns to heap praise on their father, coach, team and fans. Is there another club anywhere in the world like that, I asked the man who has coached in Britain, Scandinavia and Asia?

“It’s a special club this. Talented people. Good people. In some ways it’s better than where I’ve been before. I some ways it’s been tough, but I expected that.

“Some of the dealings with SAFA are difficult, strange things happen. And the officiating is still concerning… some of the decisions…

“But for me the best thing, the bit I’ve enjoyed the most, is working with the players. I’m not going to put them through boring drills and put them in position. I'm not that kind of coach. We watch videos, discuss what we’re doing… and then go out and play small-sided games. Love it. We all do.

"These players are called Glamour Boys, but they responded so well to my methods.

“We started off just showing the players the Manchester United stuff on video, the coaching videos with footage from Europe, South America, Africa. But then we started to change it. Show some local stuff. Recent action. We ended up watching Bayern Munich.

“They’re the side of the moment, we watch and learn.”

And the surprise player? The hidden gem in the first championship team at Naturena for eight years? Surely, I said, that has to be Tefu Junaid Mashamaite, the 28-year-old born, ironically, in Bochum, the most German-sounding town in Limpopo?

“Good spot,” laughs Baxter, the first foreign coach to win the PSL in his first season, “He’s been a revelation. Always up for it, hard, knows what’s expected of him.”

I made the point: “Pirates fell apart when Siya Sangweni got injured after the African Cup of Nations, but when Tower Mathoho and Morgan Gould got crocked, you had Mashemaite.”

Baxter responded: “Exactly. When we needed him, Tefu was there. All season. It’s players like that who win you championships.

“But you have to mention Itu Khune too. Before I got here, some people told me he wasn’t really a captain, but something must have changed.

“He talks well, he motivates, he cares. Great goalkeeper, great captain.

“Look Neal, I’m here for the long term. I said when I got here I would address the structures at this club, not just the first team and the first season.

“We’re doing that. We haven’t just won the title, we’ve got the Nedbank Cup to come on May 25 – and we know how tough it will be against Gavin Hunt.

“But we’ve also put other things in place. We have exciting things happening at Naturena which I’d like to talk about after the final.

“Our young players will have a way forward, our academy is about to be reborn. I have nutritionists, a university, sports psychologists working with me to produce the next generation of Chiefs.

“This doesn’t end here. This is, I hope, just the beginning. Call me after the final, come down and see what we're building at Kaizer Chiefs. I think you'll be impressed.”

Itumeleng Khune: Africa's best goalkeeper pushes Kaizer Chiefs towards the double

Safe hands: Itumeleng Khune

ITUMELENG KHUNE. The name is familiar. The style is impeccable. The distribution is innovative. The hunger is endless.

Voted the best player of the Professional Soccer League’s third quarter this month, Khune – the asthmatic lad from Tshing near Ventersburg – has recovered from the embarrassment of his untimely AFCON celebrations two years ago and a mysterious five-month injury sabbatical to emerge as South Africa’s undisputed No1.

Though the widely-hyped relationship break-up with restyled football analyst Minnie Dlamini has taken its toll, his form on the international and domestic stage has seen talk of an overseas move resurface.

Stuart Baxter, the widely-travelled Englishman in charge of the AmaKhosi’s double crusade, said after Saturday night’s 1-0 Nedbank Cup quarter-final win against Bloemfontein Celtic: “He’s probably the best goalkeeper on the continent right now.

“Naturally I am very pleased with the result and very pleased with the performance of the players. I thought we played quite well in the first half, I thought we defended the box well.

“But Celtic just kept pumping away and you worried at one point that things were going to break in the box, and it did, but when it breaks in the box we have the best goalkeeper probably on the continent so I’m just very happy to have him.”

Khune, still only 25, certainly has what every goalkeeper requires. Safe hands. As the son of a miner in Tshing, just outside Ventersdorp, he was ready to become a cricketer.

One of six children, Khune idolised the South African cricketers – and still enjoys watching the Proteas. He says: “Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener used to be my favourites when I was growing up. Nicky Boje was my idol. As a kid in Ventersdorp we used to have a rubbish bin as the wickets and use a spade as the bat.”

He only chose football at the tender age of 12 when Chiefs came calling in 1999. Khune recalls: “When we were kids we used to gather at a disused hall before classes and kick a tennis ball around. After school it was the same thing.”

Travelling to the Chiefs academy was a problem. He said: “My parents were not happy because I would only arrive home late at night. Sometimes I had to sleep at the train station as I couldn’t get home. There wasn’t food, there wasn’t money, but we had to accept the situation.”

Khune was a defender back then. He did well in trials – chosen as the 32nd best player on the day, that’s still the number he wears - but breathing problems relegated him to ball boy status. And his enthusiastic diving for the loose ball attracted the attention of youth coach Terror Sephoa and Chiefs’ veteran goalkeeper Brian Baloyi “my mentor, on and off the field”.

By 2004, aged 17, he was training with the first team. Three years later, Khune got the nod as Chiefs’ regular No1 when Rowen Fernandez left for Germany’s Arminia Bielefeld and Emile Baron was forced out by injury.

He made his local Premier Soccer League debut against Jomo Cosmos in 2007 and immediately impressed, forcing his way into the national squad where he made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2008.

A broken finger put Khune out for three months in 2010 but World Cup-winning Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira stuck with the lad who famously saved a penalty from David Villa during the 2009 Confederations Cup.

An impressive World Cup was followed by the awful upset of his time-wasting antics during the infamous draw against Sierra Leone at Mbombela when South Africa thought they had qualified for the 2011 African Cup of Nations.

Then came two successive injuries – first his shoulder, then his groin - and Khune literally disappeared from the face of football for months on end with veteran Arthur Bartman unable to maintain the AmaKhosi title challenge in the face of arch-rivals Orlando Pirates, or Drawlando as they are now known.

Having Khune on hand – literally and figuratively – all season has undoubtedly kept Baxter’s bid for both the PSL and Nedbank Cup on the rails.

Though SuperSport youngster Ronwen Williams is also regarded as a serious South African glovemeister for the future , Khune – the Bafana No1 and goalkeeper for the nation’s current form team – looks peerless despite a slightly vampire-tinged aversion to crosses.

Former Liverpool and Holland gloveman Sander Westerveld, the Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper reputed to be the best-paid custodian in the PSL, says: “Khune’s distribution is the best you will see anywhere. He kicks right to the attacker’s feet, wherever they are.

“But he also makes great saves. Against Brazil in Gordon Igesund’s first friendly, he was unbeatable. I don’t know why he is not playing in Europe. Maybe not in England because it is so physical, but he could be playing for Valencia and would not look out of place.”

Khune insists he has not received any written offers from Arsenal, Turkey’s Besiktas or any other foreign club, preferring to concentrate on getting those safe hands on his first ever PSL winners’ medal.

With his team seven points ahead five games from the end of the season, he says: “We know the title can still be lose, that’s why we are not getting carried away. Anything can still happen, but everything is in our control. It’s up to us to secure the title.

“We don’t want to lose it now … we can’t allow that to happen. There’s a saying that it’s hard to get to the top, but it’s easy to fall. We have to keep our focus until the season is over.”

A shorter version of this article will appear as my Neal and Pray column in www.thenewage.co.za this week. You can also see me on eNCSnews (DSTV channel 403, Sky channel 518) talking about the weekend's football tomorrow morning just after 8am.

Rantie and Sandilands to start against Kenya as Igesund reveals secrets of Bafana camp

Mind the holes: Igesund and Parker training yesterday

GORDON IGESUND has revealed he will play former Orlando Pirates striker Tokelo Rantie and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands for the first time in the must-win friendly against Kenya tomorrow night.

The Bafana coach, under pressure just three games in to his reign after the 1-0 loss in Poland on Friday night, refuses to buckle, insisting: “I always said the first four games would be about looking at the players, coming up with a settled squad for AFCON in January. That is my priority.”

Igesund also revealed how two key players – in-form Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and Orlando Pirates centre-back Siya Sangweni – had both suffered injuries while training at Nairobi’s national stadium.

A distinctly grumpy Igesund, speaking to Robert Marawa on Metro FM, said: “The conditions are not the greatest, it’s a very, very bumpy pitch.

“Siya Sangweni and Itumeleng Khune both hurt their ankles. There are holes everywhere. Both are treatable. Siyabonga will be okay I’m sure.

“I’ve asked for sand to be laid down, fill the holes up. It’s not great. I want to avoid injuries to our players and the opposition.

“Training today wasn’t great, the ball was bobbling. But it’s raining quite hard, so I’m hoping it won’t be so bumpy for the game. It might make it easier to keep possession.

“I’m definitely going to make changes, this is our whole plan for the first four games. I need to look at players, this is our last game like this.

“If we can get 75 percent of the team ready, great. We haven’t got any combinations yet. We haven’t had chance to decide how we counter-attack, defend, shuffle across. Our dead-balls… we haven’t done any of that yet.

“I want to turn this squad in to a unit, a team before January.”

Igesund, who lost 1-0 in Brazil and beat Mozambique 2-0 in  his first two games in charge, knows a win tomorrow night is imperative with Kenya ranked a lowly 128th in the world and 27th in Africa. Bafana are currently listed at 76 by FIFA and 19 by CAF, putting them 10th among the 16 qualifiers for AFCON 2013 in South Africa next year.

Igesund confirmed: “I will change three of four players. I’ll definitely start with Sandilands in goal. Rantie has to get a shout, I have to look at him. He’s the type of player I have to consider, he gets in behind defenders, he’s got pace, he’s got strength, he’s looking good in training.

“I won’t make too many drastic changes, I want to do well. Delron Buckley, with his experience, uses the ball properly, he will definitely get a chance tomorrow.”

Though Igesund bemoaned the injuries which have left him experimenting at right back, he added: “I won’t make too many changes in defence. We’ll look at Sangweni overnight. I’ll probably start with the same two centre-backs, Sangweni and Bongani Khumalo.”

Controversial selection Ricardo Nunes, the left wing-back born in Johannesburg and now playing his football in Slovakia, is likely to get another chance to prove his worth for the nation he left as an eight-year-old.

Igesund said:  “Ricardo puts a great ball in to the area. I think that’s where the game will be won tomorrow. We need to get the ball in there and get the big lads challenging.

“We’ve still got quite a bit of work to do. We will get better, obviously we will get better. We haven’t started coaching yet, the combination plays. We will create more chances.

“I wasn’t quite happy with the amount of chances we created Poland. All these little situations, every game is telling us more about our players.

“Dean Furman and Kagiso Dikgacoi I’m very happy with in midfield. They can both play as holding players. KD is getting forward for Crystal Palace in England… and in training. One can stay, one can go. We haven’t worked on these situations at the moment.

“I need sooner rather than later to get the bulk of the squad sorted out.

“It’s a good atmosphere here at the moment, everybody wants to play. That’s a very good sign, the attitude in training is good. Working hard, encouraging each other.

“The most important thing is when a team-mate respects you. That’s a big start, that’s what’s happened so far.”

Igesund revealed how he’d had a “familiarisation” session with his players while in Kenya, explaining: “I was watching training and I realised they didn’t know each other’s names. They were going er…er…er when they called for the ball. It’s normal. Some of them have never met before.

“It’s important they share rooms, find out if their team-mates married, got kids, hobbies. It’s all part of building a team that can work hard for each other, fight for each other. I want them to become friends, know that they’ve got each other’s back.

“It’s normal they didn’t know each other. When Rantie, Ndlovu came, certain players didn’t know each other. They were just whistling. They are very new to each other.

“I have given some thought to the teams that have qualified. When AFCON starts on January 19, we have to be ready for everybody, Ghana or Nigeria. There are a couple of big guns up there. Senegal getting knocked-out wasn’t a surprise. Cameroon was a bit of a shock.

“But the gap has closed, the teams in Africa are much closer together. It’s about playing well as a team, how badly do they want it?”

DON'T PANIC: Bobby's message to the AmaKhosi as the PSL kick-off looms

Sorry performance: Itumeleng Khune apologised to AmaKhosi

THE BIG PSL kick-off looms, and nowhere will pre-season nerves be jangling more than in the big, shiny dressing room for the away team at the fabulous Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

That’s where Kaizer Chiefs and their bruised egos will be sat, their pre-match preparation dominated by memories of last Sunday at a packed Loftus Versfeld, where Mamelodi Sundowns – four goals to the good after just 37 minutes - crushed the mighty AmaKhosi 4-1 in the most one-sided of the MTN8 quarter-finals last weekend.

With DON’T PANIC signs plastered on every furrowed forehead, who will be most worried? Stuart Baxter, the new coach, who is under pressure before the league has even started? Captain Itumeleng Khune, whose amazing on-field rant featured so prominently on our television screens? Zimbabwean defender Lincoln Zvasiya, so clearly out of his depth at right-back last Sunday?

Nope. I reckon it’s Bobby Motaung who will be on the verge of a nervous breakdown come 6pm on Saturday. The son of club founder Kaizer, general manager Bobby has grown up with black-and-gold teddy bears, Chiefs replica shirts and AmaKhosi adulation all his life.

Now, the man who said just last season he would never need to worry about his future employment with “the family business” finds the side he assembled for Baxter is being roundly lambasted by football pundits, rivals – and even the estimated 15 million AmaKhosi.

On Monday, as the shock waves of that Sundowns defeat were still reverberating around the nation, Bobby told SuperSport: "It’s understandable our army of supporters are feeling some pain. Losing is one thing. But conceding four goals in little more than the opening 30 minutes is something else.

“It was hard to believe - we thought we had all the bases covered. But we're all only human and capable of having an off-day. I don't think there is any cause to panic.

"But remember, we would have beaten Orlando Pirates the week before had we not conceded a careless injury-time goal. I believe the hiccups will be eliminated.”

Hiccups? With a back-four now featuring newly-signed international defenders Sibonso Gaxa, Tower Mathoho and Morgan Gould, Khune was forced to deliver a grovelling apology to fans on the official Kaizer Chiefs website which included the immortal line: “The players are as humiliated as the fans by this result.”

And of course, the smooth-talking, CV-massaging Englishman Baxter issued the standard: “The players will bounce back. I know it is a big task, but they will.”

Beset by some nasty pre-season injuries – talismanic Siphiwe Tshabalala was forced to watch last week’s debacle from the packed stands – neither Baxter, Bobby nor Khune have explained exactly how they plan to turn things around with re-signed Siyabonga Nkosi looking erm... resigned to allowing Teko Modise to walk all over him last week.

Still, it’s only AmaZulu. They were crushed 2-0 by Moroka Swallows in the MTN8 and offer Chiefs the perfect chance for immediate redemption.

At Chloorkop, the issues are reversed. Sundowns now have a problem keeping great expectations in check as they prepare to play newly-promoted Chippa United in Atteridgeville.

But their boss Johan Neeskens is happy to put everything on the line, insisting: "I always put myself under pressure, I want to win something this year, if not, if I don't win anything or do well maybe I must step down because I think it is time that we win something."

Now there’s a man who puts his future where his mouth is. With double-treble winners Orlando Pirates looking formidable and Wits signing a host of top names, we’re in for a fascinating championship.

My predictions for week one of the PSL:

Friday (8pm):

Orlando Stadium: Orlando Pirates 3, Golden Arrows 1

Cape Town Stadium: Ajax Cape Town 1, SuperSport United 1

Saturday (3pm):

Peter Mokabe Stadium: Black Leopards 0, Bloemfontein Celtic 0

Goble Park: Free State Stars 0, Bidvest Wits 2

Moses Mabhida Stadium (6pm):  AmaZulu 0, Kaizer Chiefs 1

Lucas Moripe Stadium: (8.15pm): Mamelodi Sundowns 3, Chippa United     0

Sunday (3pm):

Tuks Stadium: AmaTuks 1, Maritzburg Utd 1

Royal Bafokeng Palace: Platinum Stars 0, Moroka Swallows 1

13 good reasons to back Kaizer Chiefs against Orlando Pirates in the first big Soweto derby tomorrow

Discarded: Lucas Thwala takes on Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009

I HAVE 13 good reasons for hoping Kaizer Chiefs win the first Soweto Derby of the new season against arch-rival Orlando Pirates at Soccer City tomorrow night.

That’s how many players – many of them loyal members of the squads responsible for winning two successive trebles – the Buccaneers have forced to walk the plank before the much-maligned Carling Black Label Cup live on SABC1 at 7.15pm tomorrow night.

Though pre-season has been with us for nearly a month now, coach Augusto Palacios and his Iron Duke Irvin Khoza decided to release the names of the essentially unwanted on Thursday. Read through them. Mashele, Boubacar, Mabalane, Ngidi… a list of lads who were promised fame and fortune, lured from smaller clubs by the famous skull-and-crossbones badge, praying they would be forever revered by the Ghost.

Those hopes now lie in tatters, and just like free-spending Mamelodi Sundowns, we are handed another band of talented players left to see out their careers dreaming of what might have been.
And it appears Tokelo Rantie, such a vibrant young foil to veteran Benni McCarthy, has been discarded too, but more of that later. Let's concentrate on Thursday's ill-timed clear-out.

First Khoza transfer-listed six players, long after the real wheeler-dealing for the new season has been done:

•             Dikgang Mabalane

•             Lizo Mjempu

•             Talatou Boubacar

•             Njabulo Ntusi

•             Chiukepo Msowoya

•             Njabulo Manqana

Then, the Buccaneers told us, another six can be released on loan though most PSL teams now have their squads in place:

•             Hlabane Kutumela

•             Patrick Ngidi

•             Patrick Mashele

•             Benjamin Nthete

•             Aubrey Ngoma

•             Thabo Rakhale

And the final blow? Lucas Thwala has been told he is simply not needed with the club revealing they spoke to loyal servant Thwala on Thursday morning to explain he was surplus to requirements. And to help him on his way, this brief comment: “Lucas Thwala has been a loyal servant of Orlando Pirates for many years and the club would like to wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Chiefs, Sundowns – and most other members of the currently sponsor-free PSL – made such decisions over a fortnight ago, releasing players who were surplus to requirements when rival clubs were jostling for new blood. For an unlucky 13 Buccaneers, suddenly the future is bleak.

Tomorrow, after the usual votes from the fans, Orlando Pirates will be represented at Soccer City by Josephs,  Lekgwathi, Matlaba, Mahamutsa, Sangweni, Myeni, Mayambela, Jali, Manyisa, Mbuyane and McCarthy.

And Kaizer Chiefs will go with: Khune, Gaxa, Jambo, Mashamaite, Gould, Letsholonyane, Nale, Dladla, Lebese, Majoro and Parker. The Amakhosi millions have seen fit not to team up the newly-signed Bafana pairing of Tower Mathoho and Morgan Gould which laid the foundations for last week’s Gauteng Challenge triumph over Moroka Swallows and Wits.

Before tomorrow’s game, Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune, the man responsible for sending his penalty over the bar at the Carling Cup last season and gifting the first trophy to Pirates, says: “We don’t want to lose this competition two years in a row. We want to set the tone for the rest of the season.

“It is really only a friendly, but pride is at stake. Chiefs used to  be known as the cup kings. We want cups to come to our cabinet this season.”

With Khune’s failed penalty attempt last year probably still orbiting the earth, the Bafana No1 grinned: “I don’t think this one will be decided by penalties but if it happens, we are ready for it.”

Oupa Manyisa, who starts for Pirates tomorrow, says: “We can beat Chiefs. We will transform what we have been doing in training.”

And he’s probably right. McCarthy has apparently lost the “love handles” and slimmed down ready for the new season having impressed when it mattered in the title race last season. Strike-partner Tokelo Rantie was apparently considered to expensive to sign permanently - he flies back to IFK Hassleholm in Sweden on Sunday - but Zimbabwe striker Takesure Chinyama is named in their squad for next season, listed below. He won’t start tomorrow in a match many consider to be an unfair advantage for the big two in South African football, with the whole edifice struggling for sponsors right now.

There are other highlights tomorrow of course. You could watch the much-hyped all-South African Super 15 rugby semi-final between the Sharks and Stormers at Newlands kicking off at 8.30pm on SuperSport1 or Banyana Banyana’s second Olympic game against Canada in Coventry on SABC1 at 3.45pm.

But everyone knows the Soweto derby, “friendly” or not, will be the big one tomorrow. And Pirates have to be favourites to deliver the first major blow of the new season.

NOTE: I am NOT a Kaizer Chiefs fan. I have thrown my considerable weight behind AmaZulu, my rivals when I followed Umlazi Bush Buck in the early 80s.

As a special favour to the Ghost, I’ve listed the full 31-man Orlando Pirates squad for the season…. with shirt numbers. The double-treble winners remain favourites for the PSL crown… no matter who sponsors it for how much.

Goalkeepers

Moeneeb Josephs – 16

Senzo Meyiwa – 1

Brighton Mhlongo – 41

Ntando Nkala – 44

Defenders

Rooi Mahamutsa – 28

Lucky Lekgwathi – 14

Siyabonga Sangweni – 21

Mbongeni Gumede – 33

Robyn Johannes – 30

Happy Jele – 4

Bheki Nzunga – 19

Thabo Matlaba – 8

Patrick Phungwayo – 3

Ayanda Gcaba – 2

Midfielders

Oupa Manyisa – 20

Manti Moholo – 35

Thendani Ntshumayelo – 6

Andile Jali – 15

Onyekachi Onkonkwo – 5

Mpho Makola – 27

Mark Mayambela – 12

Daine Klate – 7

Sifiso Myeni – 11

Khethowakhe Masuku – 24

Tlou Segolela – 23

Forwards

Rudolf Bester – 25

Thulasizwe Mbuyane – 18

Bongani Ndulula – 9

Ndumiso Mabena – 26

Benni McCarthy – 17

Takesure Chinyama – 34

Stuart Baxter has proved he talks the talk, but can the new Chief walk the walk?

STUART Baxter, take a bow. The new Kaizer Chiefs coach produced a consummate performance on Thursday Night Live with Robert Marawa and Mark Gleeson, good enough to convince the estimated 15 million Amakhosi that he is, indeed, a worthy appointment.

Blessed with that flat Wolverhampton accent, the 58-year-old glided through a reasonably low-heat grilling from the smooth Mr Marawa and his 6ft 5in sidekick Mark Gleeson, a man I first introduced to the intricacies of South African football some 27 years ago when we were working together in Durban.

In fact, Baxter has done the rounds very nicely. Appearing in all the right places, talking to all the right people.

Going on Marawa was a master-stroke, especially when Mandoza is providing top quality musical accompaniment.

Neatly introducing himself as a coach with more in common with the usually successful Sir Alex Ferguson rather than the sometimes competent Roy Hodgson, he told us: “Like Sir Alex, I enter every competition believing I can win it. With Kaizer Chiefs I will be disappointed every time we don’t win a trophy.

“I am used to working under pressure.”

Nice line.

He followed that with this neat assessment of player power at Naturena, where Vladimir Vermezovic fell prey to the connection between chattering Chiefs and their general manager, Bobby Motaung.

First he dealt with the incumbent coaching crew, including the ever-popular Doc Khumalo and Donald “Ace” Khuze: “From what I saw in the win over Ajax Cape Town on Wednesday, I am happy with the technical staff. We have to keep a balance, I won’t be shooting from the hip.”

Phew! Imagine if he thew Doc and Ace to the wolves!

As for the revolt which ultimately sent VV back to Serbia, where he belongs: “A big word for me is respect. I respect what I’ve seen from the players so far. When it comes to the erm… more experienced stars, I will respect them if they work hard. We have to enjoy working together. That is important.”

Baxter also revealed that his role at Chiefs will be “two-pronged”. He explained: “I haven’t been given any targets but I do have to pay attention to youth development too.

“In my discussion, it was made clear that a big part of my job will be sorting out the academy over the next two years. You can’t turn round to the fans when you have won nothing and say: We have a couple of good youngsters coming through. But you also can’t win a trophy and then it’s over. You have to improve. Development of young players is important at a club like Kaizer Chiefs.”

In Soccer Laduma, there are encouraging words from Baxter too. The man who coached Bafana Bafana without great success a decade ago admits: “I feel I have unfinished business in South Africa. I don’t think the ending of my last job here was right. I have a chance to change that.

“I am talking to a lot of people, finding out things. I’ve got about 25 DVDs to go through. I want to hit the ground running.”

But hold on, what about his captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune going public with the popular craving for a local kingpin in Soweto? Baxter produced a neat deflection around the post: “The coach who gets it right gets support from everyone, no matter where he’s from. Players want to win things. I know and understand that.”

And as for the actual approach to take perhaps the biggest job in South African football, Baxter was able to balance his desire for a top job – he was “assisting the coach” at AIK in Sweden since leaving the Finland national role over a year ago – and the great Kaizer’s need to go overseas for yet another unspectacular appointment.

Baxter said: “Let me put it like this. In the modern world of football, you get to hear from people. I was made aware that Kaizer might want me for the job and I made it clear I’d be interested. That’s how it happened.”

All pretty slick from a man who has travelled the footballing world, from England’s Under 19s to South Africa’s Bafana, from Japanese hopefuls to Scandinavian champions – repeatedly – much like new England boss Hodgson.

On what we have seen so far, I like him; so do most of the Amakhosi who have seen and heard from the man since his appointment. But here’s my problem. When it comes to the nitty-gritty, the signing of top class players, the extent of Baxter’s glib deflection becomes apparent.

Though under reasonable pressure from Gleeson and Marawa, he went unchallenged when he gave this answer regarding new players: “I am having an important meeting tomorrow regarding that.”

Clang! That’s when the alarm bells started going off. Surely, if this widely experienced coach had done his homework he would have heard that South Africa’s biggest, richest club failed to make a signing in the January transfer window – unless you count the re-signing of star man Siphiwe Tshabalala on a new contract.

And he might have heard that Bobby “I didn’t need a CV” Motaung proclaims himself the orchestrator of transfers at Chiefs – as well as the judge and jury on coach versus player tiffs.

It was at this point, I would have asked Baxter just how he intended to deal with the dad-and-son, Kaizer-and-Bobby situation. How he intended to assert his personality where so many others have failed.

And I would have asked him why he was waiting for “a meeting tomorrow” before hearing about how much buying would take place during the off-season. Surely he would have received reasonable guarantees before he took the job… unless he was desperate for gainful employment and took the job on the cheap, promising to create a new generation of Chiefs while simultaneously winning titles.

Gleeson, sharp as always, said Baxter must produce a top three finish in his first season – and the title in his second. He appeared ruffled by that, apparently unaware of just how rare a Chiefs championship has been of late.

Baxter gives off the air of a man for whom words are inexpensive. An journeyman football coach eager to get his hands on one of Africa’s biggest franchises.

He makes promises he hopes to keep. Not firm Amakhosi-warming guarantees. His message: “I want to bring bragging rights back to the Chiefs fans. Arsenal fans are in the same position. They’ve had those rights taken from them. I can’t promise that I will bring 10 trophies in the first few season, but what I can promise is that every player who wears the jersey will do it with pride.”

Another great line, Stuart.

There’s no denying Baxter, in the space of less than a week, has reassured a lot of black-and-gold guilded followers.

Those – like me – who suggest he’s the cheap option next to some worthier, more famous candidates, must accept it’s unfair to carp before a ball has been kicked in Baxter’s name.

But in football, as in life, talk is cheap. I remain unconvinced. But, as with Roy Hodgson being over-promoted to England boss, we live in hope. Baxter could yet bring the glamour back to the Amakhosi brand. He certainly talks the talk. But can he walk the walk?

Itumeleng Khune: South Africa's mysterious disappearing goalkeeper. Anybody seen him?

Remember me? Itumeleng Khune, SA's No1

Has anybody seen Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune? I mean, actually seen him as opposed to reading a club statement about his current state of fitness? It's been over two months. And apparently he's going to "start training on his own in January, with a comeback in February."
While all eyes in South African football were on last night’s Telkom Knock-out final which saw Orlando Pirates crush Wits 3-1 (Daine Klate, Port Elizabeth's greatest footballing export, take a bow), rival Kaizer Chiefs fans have spent recent weeks – no, months - wondering what has happened to Khune, South Africa’s first choice goalkeeper during the World Cup here last year. Brilliant reflex keeper, superb distributor, wanted by Nottingham Forest last I heard.

But he's gone. Vanished off the face of the earth. If you're out there mate, email me: nealcollins@hotmail.com. No questions asked.

In a nation which boasts, according to marketing estimates, 14 million ardent Amakhosi fans, the gold-and-black brand has been having serious problems. A storm over Jimmy Tau’s captaincy was followed by accusations of nepotism against Kaizer Motaung’s family-run business. And then Khune went AWOL days after being castigated for wasting time in South Africa’s catastrophic 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone on October 8, at around the same time the Amakhosi's general manager Bobby "CV" Motuang was announcing him as their new captain.

Roused by a squeaky 1-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns last Sunday, head coach Vladimir Vermezovic is only too aware how much his side needs a consistent No1.

Last week at Loftus Versfeld, that man was Arthur Bartman, a 39-year-old journeyman whose career started at African Wanderers way back in 1995. Man of the match for a series of astounding saves, Vermezovic claimed Bartman was in discussions with Chiefs over a new contract.

Worryingly, that’s the first Bartman had heard of those talks, though he's now apparently considering signing on for another season.

So while VV, under huge pressure before last week’s win over a Sundowns side hunting top spot, promises: “We will go all out for the title,” discriminating Amakhosi fans are more worried about the sudden disappearance of Khune, the darling of Naturena as any regular reader of Twitter will attest (does SABC's model presenter @MinnieDlamini know where he is?).

With Chiefs currently fourth in the SAPL with 24 points from 14 games, VV said: “It is our main goal to win the title this season. It is not good for a big club like Chiefs to not have won the title for such a long time. We have made this our main objective this season.”

Of course they have. But while VV told the fans “I want to thank them for being our 12th player” concerns over Khune grow before the gold-and-black striped “Zebras” conclude their year against Free State Stars at Soccer City and AmaZulu in Durban.

All that is known is this. Khune was reported to have gone down with pneumonia on or about October 10, while questions over Bafana’s farcical failure to reach the African Nations Cup finals were still raging across the nation. Our last view of the mineworker’s son from Tshing near Ventersdorp was that sad dance the players engaged in, when SAFA still thought their boys had qualified for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next year.

Then, over a month later, we were told Khune, the 24-year-old who grew up idolising South Africa’s cricketers, had a groin strain. In British football, a “groin strain” is often a spurious injury invented to hide deeper concerns over a player’s future. There was talk of an operation and a further two month hiatus.

As the mysterious disappearance deepened, the club released a statement on Khune last week – and claim he will be back in action some time in Febuary.

They do not mention whether he had surgery on that groin and quote him as saying: "I'm recovering well from my injury. I'm getting there. It is frustrating, but I guess each and every player has to go through this in his career at some point.

"I will be back sometime in February. In fact, I will return early in January to start training on my own and then join the rest of the team in February.”

And, apart from revealing both Khune and Siphiwe Tshabalala are currently negotiating new contracts, that’s it. Did they speak to him in person, or did Chiefs release a statement to ease concerns over their goalkeeper? And if he's fine, why are they thinking of adding 23-year-old  goalkeeper Carl Bauerrichter to a well-stocked glove compartment which already includes Kabelo Metsimetsi, Thela Ngobeni and Bartman (who is still mulling over that new contract)?

Either way, four sentences are not really enough to explain a five-month absence of South Africa's finest goalkeeper in my book. But get well soon, Itumeleng. The 14 million Amakhosi need you.

This story appeared in the exciting new Sunday newspaper Scoop! in South Africa yesterday. Have a look at www.scoopnews.co.za. And buy it every week.

Kaizer Chiefs most valuable asset? Itumeleng Khune. And here's why...

For Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, tonight's Soweto derby – displaced a few thousand kilometres to Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Stadium – means much more than simply a place in Saturday’s Vodacom Challenge final against Tottenham Hotspur.

It could be the gateway to a career in Europe – and the real possibility of being hailed as South Africa’s finest ever goalkeeper.

After a stellar performance in the Amakhosi’s 1-0 win over Spurs at Polokwane last Saturday, Khune suddenly finds himself thrust in front of World Cup hero Siphiwe Tshabalala and top-scorer Knowledge Musona as Kaizer Chiefs’ most wanted.

While Tshabalala, scorer of that monumental opening goal against Mexico last June, continues to hope for further interest from Steve McClaren’s Nottingham Forest and Musona, despite scoring twice on trial in Germany, awaits further news from Hoffenheim, Khune is getting rave reviews.

A glorious diving save to his left to deny Peter Crouch at the Peter Mokabe Stadium, followed by an acrobatic effort to his right to foil Gareth Bale left viewers at home and abroad gasping... as did his trademark lightning fast distribution.

Gary Mabbutt, looking after Spurs on their African safari before coach Harry Redknapp’s arrival in South Africa on Monday, said: “If we had scored then we probably would have run out victors. The save from Crouch especially was one of the better ones I have seen in a long, long time. He is very confident and controls his box very well. He’s still young, he can make it in Europe.

“I thought the keeper was outstanding. The two saves he made towards the end from Peter Crouch and Gareth Bale were very important because it was just before Chiefs scored.”

And there was further backing from the Spurs players as they wandered around the pool at their plush Palazzo Hotel near Monte Casino on Monday.

Tottenham’s French central defender Younes Kaboul told us: “The Chiefs player who impressed me most was the goalkeeper . He was amazing. I think Khune and Tshabalala could easily make it in Europe, because they really are quality players and they have a good chance of making it in Europe."

Cameroon full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto agrees: "Yeah he is very good with his feet. His distribution is very good."

But the most important confirmation comes from Tottenham’s new signing Brad Friedel, a 39-year-old American who knows a bit about goalkeeping after a record 82 caps for his country and over 400 Premier League appearances.

Before Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates he said: “I watched South Africa’s young goalkeeper in the World Cup and now we have just played against him and he made two fantastic saves on Saturday.

“He’s not that tall but you can see the spring he has in his legs, that makes up for it and I think he can be able to manoeuvre himself around the goal just fine.

“The thing that stands out is his distribution. It’s outstanding for such a young guy - at 24, he is still very young for a goalkeeper and as long as he keeps working hard he can only get better and better.”

Khune, born in Tshing near Ventersdorp on June 20, 1987, is one of six from a mining family. He went to Chiefs on trial as a teenaged outfielder, injured a leg, and found himself playing in goal. Given a surprising passion for cricket – he lists South African big-hitter Lance Klusener as one of his boyhood heroes – he showed good hands and the rest is history.

Last month, Khune’s agent Jazzman Mahlakgane ruled out a move overseas. He said: “Itumeleng has already indicated to me that he is not ready to move and play abroad for now. He wants to stay in South Africa for at least one more season before moving overseas.”

If Khune shines against Pirates tonight – and, if Chiefs down their old rivals – in the Vodacom Challenge final against Spurs at Ellis Park on Saturday, Jazzman may well be left eating those words.

Who the hell is Neal Collins (www.twitter.com/nealcol)? See www.nealcollins.co.uk.

South Africa 0, Uruguay 3: Sometimes, you just despair

Aren’t you glad you don’t have to watch South American football every week? The dives, the play-acting, the constant niggle. And oh, the pain they go through after every sliding tackle as they roll and roll.

Uruguay pulled out all their old Latin skills last night – though a masterful Diego Forlan can take an untainted bow. But in truth the 16^th best side in the world were far from impressive as they engineered a route past South Africa, the lowest ranked hosts in the history of the World Cup.

From a distance it may look different. Uruguay dominated, stroked the ball about, keeping possession for long periods. Then came what looked like the first authentic screamer of the tournament from outside the box. Diego Forlan’s effort appeared perfect with the ultra-light Jabulani ball, which dipped for the first time in the tournament, flying in just under the bar.

But examine it closely and Forlan’s 24^th-minute rasper took a touch off the neck of Portsmouth’s Aaron Mokoena, winning his 102^nd cap for Bafana Bafana last night. That’s why what looked a masterful strike from Forlan actually owed a lot to appearances.

And that’s what this 3-0 victory amounted to. Might look good to fans from that part of the world, to television commentators distracted by the vuvuzela but sheez, if Luiz Suarez went down with one more injury in a land without a National Health Scheme, his insurers may have fled the country.

All that became irrelevant when, after 76 frustrating minutes, home goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune – less than confident in front of 60,000 at an officially freezing Loftus Versfeld last night – was sent off.

Not because he committed an awful foul but because Luiz Suarez – yes, him again – produced a swan dive of such epic proportions, Swiss referee Massimo Busacca would have been insensitive not to offer his sympathies and a card. After all, Suarez had gone down at least twice before demanding a spot kick. And there was slight contact.

But the eagle-eyed television cameras will tell you Suarez was off-side anyway. Not that it mattered.

So, Khune sent off muttering, penalty, and Monieb Josephs on for his first touch of the World Cup. Up stepped Forlan, whose dad Pablo played in the 1966 World Cup, and stuck it into the top corner.

Pereira added another to complete a night of utter misery at a stadium more used to watching the charging Blue Bulls win rugby games.

For once, the vuvuzelas were silenced. Anger, disappointed, despair for the Rainbow Nation, who had enjoyed their World Cup journey so much in the build-up to this game. Then they came up against the cynical reality of world football at the top level.

Just ask Costa Rica, the CONCACAF nation they beat in the play-offs as CONMEBOL’s fifth-best side. I wasn’t there, but I know that still rankles with those who were. Google it.

The solution? I can only suggest a course in drama for a baffled Bafana Bafana. Or law. And perhaps urge Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira to push men forward a little more when his side are winning ball in the midfield. Though he won the World Cup in 1994, I guess he knew what he was doing.

Thus ended South Africa’s 14-match unbeaten run, extending back to when Parreira resumed his duties last November. The longest unbeaten run in football, only Holland (20) and Portugal (17) can offer better here.

What remains? France, for South Africa, in an even chillier Bloemfontein. Uruguay finish against Mexico. I fear the hosts, for the first time in the history of the World Cup, will fail to reach the knock-out stages. They were very poor last night.

On the night, they were too lightweight, too excited – particularly Siphiwe Tshabalala, who scored that screamer in the opening game against Soccer City and let it go to his head.

Captain Mokoena said: "That was unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. We lost our belief, stopped playing. We still have France to play. We have to bounce back."

The great disappointment? Everton’s player of the year Steven Pienaar. The great engine he showed us in the Premier League last winter looked like it needed oil, the lung-bursting runs at altitude just weren’t there.

This piece is written with a heavy heart. This earlier piece wasn't. See http://bleacherreport.com/articles/406996-fifa-world-cup-2010-switzerland-1-spain-0-oh-how-i-love-this-game

Khune ready to do it all over again as South Africa prepare to play Uruguay

South Africa’s once-fragile goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, so nearly impenetrable at Soccer City’s big kick-off against Mexico last Friday, has to do it all over again at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow.

When South Africa play Uruguay, the whole tournament will be turned up a notch. After endless cautious opening group games around the Rainbow Nation, the hosts will be the first to play their second game at this World Cup.

Traditionally the first game is all about not wanting to lose. South Africa and Uruguay both drew their openings games, and a win becomes imperative if either side is to emerge from Group A.

Goalkeeper Khune, outstanding in the 1-1 draw in front of 85,000 hysterical fans on day one, goes into day six saying: "I can’t quite describe how it was in that opening game. It’s one of those moments you need to experience yourself to understand.

"When you are a goalkeeper you have responsibilities - I needed to make the saves for the team.”

Given the goalkeeping errors in the tournament so far – most notably Rob Green’s appalling error for England in their 1-1 draw against the US last Saturday – Khune knows the pressure is on with the light Jabulani ball misbehaving at altitude.

But he told the Kaizer Chiefs website: "It wasn’t just me who contributed against Mexico, I feel the whole team played well. But we have to be even better against Uruguay.”

With World Cup fever (locally known as “feva”) sweeping the country, the 22-year-old, 5ft 11in stopper says: “I think anything is possible with the nation behind us. We are more than ready for this World Cup. We will go out there to do our best for the country.”

He certainly has what every goalkeeper requires. Safe hands. As the son of a miner in Tshing, just outside Ventersdorp, he was ready to become a cricketer. One of six children, Khune idolised the South African cricketers – and still enjoys watching the Proteas. He says: “Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener used to be my favourites when I was growing up. As a kid in Ventersdorp we used to have a rubbish bin as the wickets and use a spade as the bat.”

He only chose football at the tender age of 12 when Kaizer Chiefs – South Africa’s best-supported club - came calling in 1999. Khune recalls: “When we were kids we used to gather at a disused hall before classes and kick a tennis ball around. After school it was the same thing.”

Travelling to the Chiefs academy was a problem. He said: “My parents were not happy because I would only arrive home late at night. Sometimes I had to sleep at the train station as I couldn’t get home. There wasn’t food, there wasn’t money, but we had to accept the situation.”

Khune was a defender back then. He did well in trials – chosen as the 32^nd best player on the day, that’s still the number he wears - but chest problems relegated him to ball boy status. And his enthusiastic diving for the loose ball attracted the attention of Chiefs’ veteran goalkeeper Brian Baloyi “my mentor, on and off the field”. By 2004, aged 17, he was training with the first team.

Three years later, Khune got the nod as Chiefs’ regular No1 when Rowen Fernandez left for Germany’s Arminia Bielefeld and Emile Baron was forced out by injury. He made his local Premier Soccer League debut against Jomo Cosmos in 2007 and immediately impressed, forcing his way into the national squad where he made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2008.

A broken finger put Khune out for three months this season but World Cup-winning Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has stuck with the lad who famously saved a penalty from David Villa during last year’s Confederations Cup.

Khune prepares to add to his 30 caps by defying Uruguay before the final game against France in Bloemfontein on June 22. The hosts have never failed to qualify for the knock-out stages at a World Cup but Khune insists: “We are the hosts, we shouldn’t be worried about anybody, they should be worried about us.

"We can go out there and upset these countries, but we have to realise they won't make it easy for us."

I’ve watched Khune in all five pre-World Cup friendly matches and that Mexico opener, often with former South Africa goalkeeper Deshi Bhaktawer beside me. We had our doubts. He was groggy after an early clash in the 2-1 win over Colombia three weeks ago and was taken off at half-time. But the 1-0 win over Denmark in Atteridgeville was a major turning point for the slightly lightweight goalkeeper and most of his colleagues.

Khune’s distribution, innovative and rapid, has to be seen to be believed – a real lesson for any aspiring custodian. He has that slight “vampire” weakness... an aversion to crosses, but has worked hard on dominating the area.

The Mexico game was another giant stride forward for Khune and his Kaizer Chiefs team-mates. Super-fit midfielders Siphile Tshabala, Teko Modise and Reneilwe YeYe Letsholonyane – who all play for South Africa’s biggest club - outshone their illustrious counterpart Kevin Pienaar, player of the year at Everton last season.

While Pienaar confessed to “tiredness”, Khune was near-perfect against the Mexicans and could do little about the equaliser after Tshabalala’s superb opening goal, still the best we’ve seen at this tournament.

South Africa go into the Uruguay game on a high. They are unbeaten in 13 games since Parreira agreed to return to the hottest seat in football, they are fitter than any side I’ve seen – some of the players have lost 6kg (over two stone) since the first harsh training camp in Brazil three months ago.

Like Guus Hiddink’s ferociously fit hosts South Korea in 2002, Parreira has chosen the “fit as a robber’s dog” philosophy too. And remember, Korea got to the last four eight years ago.

Khune, like the rest of this football-mad nation, is starting to believe. He said: "We have the advantage of our home supporters, the whole nation will be behind us. In our camp, we believe nothing is impossible. Nothing will be the same after the World Cup.”

And on the thorny subject of the African football horn, he grins: “There weren’t enough Vuvuzelas at Soccer City. We appeal to the South Africans to please bring more vuvuzelas to Loftus.

“We want to hear the sound of vuvuzelas reverberating in all our matches. The more the sound of vuvuzelas, the better for us. We always feel good when we hear the sound of the vuvuzelas.”

Neal Collins is in South Africa to promote his first novel, A GAME APART, which has hit No15 on Amazon's African best-sellers list. For more information, see http://www.nealcollins.co.uk.

And if you think the Scottish bagpipes should be banned rather than the Vuvuzela, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1hrMRk5FnY

Jamie Carragher finally ends the Vuvuzela debate as South Africa celebrate a great start to World Cup 2010

IT was Jamie Carragher, not Sepp Blatter who finally ended the predictable debate about the Vuvuzela’s role at what has so far been a near-perfect World Cup in South Africa.

Liverpool’s homegrown hero laughed: “Anybody who’s been to Anfield knows I make more noise than any African football horn!”

With calls for a ban coming thick and fast from foreign journalists, FIFA president Blatter twittered: “To answer all your messages re the Vuvuzelas. I have always said that Africa has a different rhythm, a different sound. I don’t see banning the music traditions of fans in their own country. Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?”

I’ve just replied to Blatter, saying: “Too right, what would you rather hear, the coarse swearing from the fans at an everyday Premier League match in England?”

But Carragher’s comments take the biscuit. The Vuvuzela thing is a side issue, a distraction... but a vital part of South Africa football culture over the past decade.

The plastic football horn, based on the traditional curled Kudu antelope horn used by rural Africans to summon their tribe, first came to prominence in the local PSL in 2001. My friend Kevin McCallum on the Johannesburg Star suggests the first Vuvuzela was a beer siphon, and who am I to argue with local knowledge?

Since then, marketing and fan campaigns have seen them grow to become an integral and affordable part of what South Africans do when the go to football.

At Polokwane yesterday, the puffing cheeks went quiet for the anthems. And though it was often difficult to chat to the two knowledgeable lads next to me in block 134 of the East Stand, they lent that African sound to a game between Algeria and Slovenia which, to be honest, lacked any real magic though 33,000 made the long trip to the far north.

Carragher, a half-time substitute in England’s 1-1 draw with the USA on Saturday, adds: “I didn’t notice the Vuvuzelas too much when I came on but I think you notice it more when you are watching.

“I know you hear them on TV because my kids have been on the phone asking for them, so I’ve got two of them in my bag already to take home.”

It would be good to hear the fans from the 32 nations singing their traditional songs – in South Africa’s friendly against Denmark 10 days ago, the fans did stop at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium to sing before the game, using the colourful plastic tubes as a visual rather than audio device, as they waved them in unison.

Perhaps we could have the big screens in the stadiums asking for a ten minute Vuvuzela break to allow singing. But either way, it’s better than listening to the comments and oaths from football fans which so often upset the women and youngsters in the crowd.

South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune complained after their opening draw against Mexico at Soccer City: “There weren’t enough Vuvuzelas. We need more,” while Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena of Portsmouth told TalentNation.com’s Shout4 campaign: “Come and support South Africa and bring your vuvuzela come on and support Bafana. You've seen me shouting for South Africa, now it's your turn and blow your Vuvuzelas.”

What should really be upsetting fans here is the Jabulani ball. England and Algeria both conceded bizarre goals in their opening games and nearly every free-kick and corner has flown long and high, particularly at altitude.

Apparently they were trialled successfully in Germany. But I know for a fact Gavin Hunt, South Africa’s most successful club coach with three consecutive PSL title at Supersport United, tried them for six months here. He complained to Gavin Cowley, the former rugby and cricketer in charge of the uniquely South Africa ball. Hunt told me: “They’re okay at sea level, but at altitude they fly around too much. We need the heavier Mitre ball because of the thin air up here on the Highveld.”

Sadly, it’s too late to change the ball. And far too late to silence the Vuvuzela. Not to mention morally reprehensible. Get ear-plugs.

If a light ball and loud horn are the only real problems so far, South Africa has done rather well for a nation they said couldn’t host a World Cup successfully.

The first three days saw six magnificent stadiums, six perfect pitches, six good crowds (four sell-outs) featuring seven games and 12 goals. The opening group games are always cautious. Nobody wants to lose that first outing.

But generally, South Africa should sit back and await an apology from those who said we would, by now, be sat in a blood bath being bitten by deadly snakes and mugged by terrible tsotsis. It hasn’t happened. There are still tickets. There are still flights. And very reasonable places to stay.

Get here now. You may sit in a bit of traffic after games, but have you ever tried getting out of Wembley after a big game?

What interests me is we’ve seen three red cards but no great debate on refereeing. I said the Vuvuzela would be the first big talking point. The refs are next.

Neal Collins (nealcol on Twitter) is in South Africa to promote his first novel A GAME APART. For more information see www.nealcollins.co.uk. And if you don’t want to see Steven Gerrard’s opening goal for England watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg_8y7ylc5Q. It’s hilarious! And they said Africa would mess things up at this World Cup.

The man who stands between South Africa and an opening disaster: Itumeleng Khune

ONE man stands between South Africa and a devastating opening defeat when the Rainbow Nation finally shows its true colours at Soccer City on Friday.

If Mexico are going to ruin the World Cup fever sweeping this nation, Itumeleng Khune – armed only with hope and a pair of gloves – is the man assigned to stop them.

On paper, it has to be El Tri, as the Mexicans know their team. They’re ranked 17th to South Africa’s 83rd in the world by FIFA. They have been strong in qualifying and boast a galaxy of stars (watch for Manchester United’s newest signing Javier Hernandez, West Ham’s Guillermo Franco and Arsenal's Carlos Vela up front and former Spurs midfielder Giovanni dos Santos) who would take the mediocre South Africa Premier League by storm.

But Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Khune, after witnessing 180,000 Vuvuzela-venting fans greet the team bus in Sandton yesterday, is having none of it. The 22-year-old, 5ft 11in stopper says: “Mexico should be worried about us. I think anything is possible with the nation behind us. We are more than ready for this World Cup. We will go out there to do our best for the country.”

He certainly has what every goalkeeper requires. Safe hands. As the son of a miner in Tshing, just outside Ventersdorp, he was ready to become a cricketer. One of six children, Khune idolised the South African cricketers – and still enjoys watching the Proteas. He says: “Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener used to be my favourites when I was growing up. Back in Ventersdorp we used to have a rubbish bin as the wickets and use a spade as the bat.”

He only chose football at the tender age of 12 when Kaizer Chiefs – South Africa’s best-supported club - came calling in 1999. Khune recalls: “When we were kids we used to gather at a disused hall before classes and kick a tennis ball around. After school it was the same thing.”

Travelling to the Chiefs academy was a problem. He said: “My parents were not happy because I would only arrive home late at night. Sometimes I had to sleep at the train station as I couldn’t get home. There wasn’t food, there wasn’t money, but we had to accept the situation.”

Khune was a defender back then. He did well in trials – chosen as the 32^nd best player on the day, that’s still the number he wears - but chest problems relegated him to ball boy status. And his enthusiastic diving for the loose ball attracted the attention of Chiefs’ veteran goalkeeper Brian Baloyi “my mentor, on and off the field”. By 2004, aged 17, he was training with the first team.

Three years later, Khune got the nod as Chiefs’ regular No1 when Rowen Fernandez left for Germany’s Arminia Bielefeld and Emile Baron was forced out by injury. He made his local Premier Soccer League debut against Jomo Cosmos in 2007 and immediately impressed, forcing his way into the national squad where he made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2008.

A broken finger put Khune out for three months this season but World Cup-winning Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has stuck with the lad who famously saved a penalty from David Villa during last year’s Confederations Cup.

Khune prepares to add to his 29 caps by defying Mexico – who are rapidly followed by Uruguay and France in a difficult Group A. The hosts have never failed to qualify for the knock-out stages at a World Cup but Khune insists: “Mexico should be worried about us as the hosts and we shouldn't be worried about them.

"We can go out there and upset these countries. It will be nice to take all the nine points in the group stage, but we have to realise the other countries won't make it easy for us."

I’ve watched Khune in all five pre-World Cup friendly matches since then, often with former South Africa goalkeeper Deshi Bhaktawer beside me. We had our doubts. He was groggy after an early clash in the 2-1 win over Colombia a fortnight ago and was taken off at half-time. But last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Denmark in Atteridgeville was a major turning point for the slightly lightweight goalkeeper and most of his colleagues.

While super-fit midfielders Siphile Tshabala, Teko Modise and Reneilwe YeYe Letsholonyane outshone their illustrious counterpart Steven Pienaar, Khune was near-perfect against the great big Danes in goal, failing to claim just one cross and looking generally composed. His distribution, innovative and rapid, has to be seen to be believed – a real lesson for any aspiring custodian.

South Africa go into the opening game on a high. They are unbeaten in 12 games since Parreira agreed to return to the hottest seat in football, they are fitter than any side I’ve seen – some of the players have lost 6kg (over two stone) since the first harsh training camp in Brazil three months ago.

Like Guus Hiddink’s ferociously fit hosts South Korea in 2002, Parreira has chosen the “fit as a robber’s dog” philosophy too. And remember, Korea got to the last four eight years ago.

Khune, like the rest of this football-mad nation, is starting to believe. He said: "We have the advantage of our home supporters, those who will be blowing the vuvuzelas at the stadium and the whole nation will be behind us. We have to believe we can win all three group games."

Neal Collins is in South Africa to promote his first novel, A GAME APART, which has hit No15 on Amazon's African best-sellers list. For more information, see www.nealcollins.co.uk.

Readers may be interested in this USA Today piece, published yesterday: http://content.usatoday.com/community/comments.aspx?id=38793306.story&p=2

Exclusive video footage of Monday night’s England friendly see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5CX4pb8Xmo.

Remember, it's never too late to book a flight and come see this World Cup for yourself. You'll be safe, secure... and you'll love it!