Zuma is new Bafana captain

WITH a gentle, persuasive twist of the arm from coach Ted Dumitru, the provisional Bafana Bafana squad members on Wednesday elected livewire goal-scorer Sibusiso Zuma as their new captain for this month’s African Nations Cup tournament in Egypt.

In a move that might raise eyebrows in certain quarters, Zuma replaces durable Blackburn Rovers defender Aaron Mokoena, who was the last player in the provisional Bafana squad to arrive at the team’s training camp late on Wednesday. Dumitru said time had “run out” and it was imperative to have a captain to attend to attend to official duties – “and Zuma was the overwhelming choice of the players.”The Bafana coach said it would be “wrong” to say he had chosen the captain – “or that anyone else has done so for that matter.”It was a democratic decision,” he added, “with the matter decided according to the wishes of the players in a secret ballot.”Notwithstanding this, the canny Dumitru has scattered his own favourable sentiments about Zuma’s credentials for the captaincy over the past couple of weeks like an ornithologist feeding crumbs to a flock of birds.German-based Zuma has struck top form for Bafana since moving to Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga this season, but he previously went through a lengthy period of indifferent form at international level and often flattered only to deceive.One of the most popular players in the Bafana squad, some are nevertheless apprehensive that his appointment as captain could affect his revived form.Bafana on Thursday scored a comfortable win over Mvela League leaders Wits University at Marks Park and Dumitru said he was “pleased” by the manner in which the players handled the well-organised Students’ defence.The only misgivings surrounding the match centred round an ankle injury incurred by Benson Mhlongo, with the seriousness of the Sundowns player’s condition still to be determined.-Nampa-SapaDumitru said time had “run out” and it was imperative to have a captain to attend to attend to official duties – “and Zuma was the overwhelming choice of the players.”The Bafana coach said it would be “wrong” to say he had chosen the captain – “or that anyone else has done so for that matter.”It was a democratic decision,” he added, “with the matter decided according to the wishes of the players in a secret ballot.”Notwithstanding this, the canny Dumitru has scattered his own favourable sentiments about Zuma’s credentials for the captaincy over the past couple of weeks like an ornithologist feeding crumbs to a flock of birds.German-based Zuma has struck top form for Bafana since moving to Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga this season, but he previously went through a lengthy period of indifferent form at international level and often flattered only to deceive.One of the most popular players in the Bafana squad, some are nevertheless apprehensive that his appointment as captain could affect his revived form.Bafana on Thursday scored a comfortable win over Mvela League leaders Wits University at Marks Park and Dumitru said he was “pleased” by the manner in which the players handled the well-organised Students’ defence.The only misgivings surrounding the match centred round an ankle injury incurred by Benson Mhlongo, with the seriousness of the Sundowns player’s condition still to be determined.-Nampa-Sapa