It's such a pity we have to wait several months before we see Bafana Bafana in action.
In one way, it’s a relief that we can enjoy the finer things life has to offer over the next little while without the risk of cardiac arrest because the national team has drawn or lost another crucial encounter.
But it would have been entertaining to see how the coach - whoever that is seeing Shakes Mashaba is on his way out - goes about his selection criteria.
The number of players on-form at the moment is absolutely ridiculous, and it is mostly in areas of concern for Bafana.
We’ve witnessed Mashaba chop and change the frontline in the two years he has been in charge, looking for a striker who can do more than just arrive in camp, fly across the continent earning silly Voyager miles and pocket a sizeable daily allowance.
And it’s been a bit of a joke to be honest, the national team mentor even desperately rolling back the years by calling up Eleazar Rodgers and Bradley Grobler from Bidvest Wits and SuperSport United respectively.
Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with rewarding players who are doing the most for their teams, but these two had their chance - four years ago. The fact that they have found their way into the fold again is to the detriment of our football, sorry to disappoint you.
This is why, for me, it is such a pity that Mashaba has failed to get us to next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Gabon, leaving the side in limbo until August when Bafana are scheduled to travel to the Cape Verde to resume their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign.
There have been reports that CAF, the continent’s football mother body, could arrange for the 2019 Afcon qualifiers to be played before that, but that seems unlikely given next year’s tournament runs until early February, the draw still has to be conducted and Fifa will be staging the Confederations Cup in Russia between June 17 and July 2. And you know the silky suits from Zurich will want the attention all to themselves.
We are going to be starved of seeing Bafana, but remember it’s good for your heart.
My irritation, though, is that a guy like Lebogang Manyama, the Cape Town City captain and his teammate, Aubrey Ngoma, might never get to wear the national team jersey.
Sure, if they keep at it like they have been for their club until friendly matches and, most importantly, crucial qualifiers are around the corner, then it’s a no-brainer to test what they have to offer. But the problem with our players is their inconsistency.
Manyama is a classic example of this unfortunate plight.
He is again making the headlines after huffing and puffing for two or three seasons while at SuperSport United before being loaned out, and eventually sold, to Mpumalanga Black Aces (now Cape Town City).
There are a few more in his situation right now, impressive in the league with no Bafana call-up reward in sight.
Bra Shakes, you robbed us.
@superjourno