If looks could kill, Neymar would be dead, such was the menacing nature of the stare Abbubaker Mobara gave the Brazil captain after their ‘scuffle’ in their group opener on Thursday.
Gift Motupa and the referee arrived in time to separate the two, with Mobara’s eyebrows raised and his body language imploring the Barcelona star to try his luck with the lad from Mitchells Plain.
That moment lasted for a couple of seconds but it summed up perfectly the national Under-23 team’s mood in their Rio Olympics opener. They stood their ground against the mighty Brazil; they weren’t going to be pushed around by anyone, including Neymar.
When Mobara was asked about the exchange of words, his answer was as sharp as his stare: “No comment!”
Throughout the 90 minutes, Mobara breathed down on Neymar and didn’t give him any room to weave his magic. When Neymar momentarily evaded Mobara, he found another defender in front of him or Itumeleng Khune forming a brick wall in goal.
It was a huge change from a team that went to the tournament with a porous defence that lacked a leader. Khune provided leadership, with Mulomowandau Mathoho helping with his aerial strength. Rivaldo Coetzee was calm, while Mobara and Deolin Mekoa, as fullbacks, closed down Brazil’s wingers.
The defence was resolute even when they played the last 30 minutes a man down after central midfielder Mothobi Mvala was sent off for two bookable offences.
But this was just one good performance. They need two more, against Denmark tomorrow at midnight and Iraq in the early hours of Thursday morning, to reach the knockout stage.
After the first round, with two goalless draws, all four teams in Group A are tied on a point, with everything level.
“We told the boys there are no celebrations (after getting a point from Brazil),” said SA coach Owen da Gama.
“There will be nothing of that kind. They must go back and work harder to face Denmark. We have experience of what happened in Sydney in 2000. We beat Brazil but lost the other two games, so that performance amounted to nothing because we didn’t go to the next round.
“We are wiser now. We won’t underestimate the other teams or let this performance get the better of us.”
What that result did, though, was send a strong message to their rivals that South Africa’s Olympics team are up for the fight.
“I think the support and belief the coach and technical team had in us pushed us to do well against Brazil,” Mobara said.
“That brought the best out of us. The confidence was there, the spirit was there. Even when we were a player down, the team spirit went even higher. If we carry this confidence throughout the tournament, we can perform brilliantly.”
Da Gama will have to decide if he sticks with Lebogang Mothiba up front along with Menzi Masuku. Mothiba found himself clear on three occasions against Brazil but failed to make it count. Even though the Lille forward hasn’t spent much time with the team, he clicked well with them. He had a good understanding with Keagan Dolly, who set him up one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but didn’t find his scoring touch.
Masuku’s body language wasn’t that great either. He didn’t offer the team much going forward, but he trekked back to defend as Brazil pushed them back.
They’ll get more opportunities to go forward against Denmark, where Phumlani Ntshangase is likely to start in central midfield in place of the suspended Mvala.
“This was a great stepping stone for the boys,” Da Gama said.
“We can only go higher.” - Saturday Star