Extra Time: Bafana have had an easy build-up to Afcon, leaving them with no reason not to perform well, writes Michael Madyira.
For several teams, the run-up to the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations is usually headlined by off-the-pitch issues.
Some big teams, especially from West Africa, named as tournament favourites are notorious for bonus disputes.
It is unpleasant watching camp being disrupted as players refuse to train or threaten to boycott matches in protest over unpaid bonuses or disagreements over the amount of money due to them.
But that is not the case in the Bafana Bafana camp.
It was all smiles and it was refreshing witnessing the South African senior players earlier this week reaching a bonus agreement with Safa.
They were even promised a R7 million bonus to share, in the event they are crowned African champions.
Money talks in football and it is the perfect motivation, especially in the African context.
Now Bafana players can fully focus on the job at hand, working on delivering the Afcon title for the first time since 1996.
It is a smooth camp without any distractions, always highlighted by happy faces.
That leaves coach Hugo Broos and his men without excuses if they fail to perform well in Ivory Coast.
Broos is known for coming up with excuses whenever his players do not deliver, with the common ones blaming forwards and missed chances.
But this time around, everything has been flowing in camp and that is what a serious team needs ahead of a major tournament.
Of course, there have been injuries to Lebo Mothiba and Mothobi Mvala while Lyle Foster was barred from travelling to Afcon by his Premier League club Burnley.
But injuries are common in almost every team and Bafana’s Afcon opponents have not been spared either.
Missing some players for the biennial continental tournament at Ivory Coast should never be used as an excuse for the team to falter.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana players arrive at OR Tambo International Airport from Stellenbosch for the Gauteng leg of their camp.
Image source: Bafana Bafana
