WAS DONOVAN FAVOURED TO HELP HIM GET AN SA CONTRACT?

Sports Reporter

AMID the fallout triggered by the Warriors’ shock defeat at the hands of Lesotho on Friday, one BIG question has emerged – was the national cause sacrificed to try and help ‘keeper Donovan Bernard get a contract in South Africa?

The Chicken Inn ‘keeper was thrust into the starting XI against the Crocodiles and was at fault in the first goal, which was always going to be decisive.

He left his line to try and cut the ball delivered from a corner and failed to do so, leaving him exposed, and the ball crashed into the belly of Rethabile Rasethunsa who guided it home in the 21st minute.

Ten minutes later, Bernard let a shot from Jane Thaba-Ntsu squeeze through his diving body as Lesotho doubled their lead.

While Thaba-Ntsu was clear on goal, having benefitted from a porous central defensive partnership between Gerald Takwara and Teenage Hadebe, his shot should have been saved.

Bernard is a good goalkeeper but it’s also true that he has not really convinced the fans that he is the number one the way that the likes of the late George Chigova used to do.

He was poor during the Four Nations tournament in Malawi and the expectation was that he would not be the first-choice ‘keeper in these World Cup qualifiers this month.

However, coach Jairos Tapera gave him the benefit of doubt and questions are now being asked if this wasn’t another attempt to try and market him to his suitors at SuperSport United.

While there is no evidence this could be the case, it hasn’t stopped local football fans speculating, especially amid reports that the Warriors are being run by some cartels who want certain players in the team for their benefit.

“It’s expected that the fans will have questions and all these conspiracy theories,” said a local club official, who did not want to be named. The ‘keeper’s position in a football team is a very important one and it can make or break a team.

“If you have a ‘keeper you trust, it means the central defence will not be in panic mode and they can play with a lot of freedom because they know that even if they make a mistake, the last man has a chance to save them.

“But, if they don’t trust their ‘keeper it can also affect their performance and we now see that Teenage and Takwara are being blamed.”