Latest move raises doubts over Zebras' readiness

Mqondisi Dube | Wednesday November 26, 2025 06:02

The first major event was supposed to be the announcement of the final squad on Monday (yesterday), but that did not happen.

The BFA indicated that the announcement has been postponed due to the passing of national executive committee member, Keleeme Bahakgametse (May His Dear Soul Rest in Peace).

The postponement comes against mounting concerns over the snail pace of preparations, including the Zebras being unable to play a friendly match during the recent FIFA week.

There is a feeling that football could have, on one hand, honoured Bahakgametse and still had the team's announcement on the other hand.

It would have presented a win-win for all concerned. Again, the AFCON schedule is controlled by external more than internal forces.

To announce the team can be, in some way, a means to honour Bahakgametse and dedicate space for a word or two about his life, as well as observe a moment of silence at the ceremony.

It would not be out of order to honour him that way, and appreciate his contribution to football during the occasion to announce the team. I do not think even his family would have found that to be remiss.

And even Bahakgametse would probably have liked to see football moving forward in his honour.

Otherwise the BFA runs the risk of being seen as using the late NEC member's death as an excuse to postpone the team announcement. The fact that the association has struggled to put together friendly matches can accelerate this theory.

As it stands, the BFA has indicated that the team will play friendly matches, but the nature of opponents remains a mystery, just over three weeks before the Zebras' first game.

If all is well, then there is nothing to fear for the BFA, but there is an element of restiveness amongst fans who are concerned as rivals ramp up efforts ahead of the AFCON kick-off.

The burden of proof now lies squarely on the laps of the BFA that indeed there was no need for the nation to be concerned, and that all is well and truly under control.

By now, the jersey that the team will wear at the AFCON should have hit all sports and street vendor shops. The buzz is missing, and other than the verbal announcement of the AFCON campaign, that oomph is missing.

It is a sharp contract to 2012. Granted, that was the Zebras maiden qualification, but still there is marked difference.

There is still time for the BFA to salvage something and up the ante, but one feels that the association is running out of space as it left things far too late.