Replace Rayners with Mbuthuma – Mphela urges Pitso

Former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego “Killer” Mphela wants Orlando Pirates’ Yanela Mbuthuma to spearhead Bafana’s attack against lowly-ranked Eritrea.

At Cairo’s Al-Salam Stadium tonight (6pm SA time), Bafana face Eritrea in their second Group D game of the qualifiers of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), to be co-hosted by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.

Going into this clash against the Red Sea Camels, who are ranked 184th by Fifa, 50th ranked Bafana are high in morale after beating Guinea 2-1 in their Group D opener of these qualifiers at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.

Centre-back Ime Okon and left-back Samukelo Kabini were on target for Mosimane’s men in Soweto as goal-drought for Bafana strikers stretched to five games. Mamelodi Sundowns’ Iqraam Rayners led Bafana’s attack, before eventually coming off for Mbuthuma in the 68th minute.

Mphela has called for Mosimane to start Mbuthuma against Eritrea. Bafana’s last goal by a striker was in a 1-all draw against Jamaica, courtesy of Lyle Foster, who’s not part of the current squad, in a pre-World Cup friendly that was played behind closed doors in Mexico early June.

“I’d say give Mbuthuma a chance. Rayners did fairly well against Guinea but he never really got chances, so I’d go for Mbuthuma just to see what he can do. Coach Pitso seems to believe in him and that might have boosted his confidence as well, so I think he deserves to start,” Phela told Sowetan yesterday.

“Rayners has also proven that he’s effectieve coming off the bench, so starting him off the bench wouldn’t be a bad idea as well.”

Killer, who was Mosimane’s preferred striker during the coach’s first stint at the helm between July 2010 and June 2012, feels Bafana have enough quality to see off Eritrea, albeit cautioning them against complacency.

“We will have to beat them, that’s the expectations given the quality we have. We should take these three points, but history tells me that this kind of games can be tricky,” Killer said.

“Players can easily get complacent in such games and be surprised. It happened before where we got humbled by minnows like Cape Verde and Niger, among others. In terms of quality, I don’t think they can trouble us…but we have to be mentally strong.”