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Cape Town - Former PSL coach Muhsin Ertugral believes that Bafana
Bafana do not have what it takes to challenge for honours at the 2015
African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea next month.
Optimism levels have risen around the country since Shakes Mashaba took charge of the national team and ensured that they secured their place at the tournament proper by winning their qualification group, which also contained Nigeria, Congo and Sudan.
But Ertugral, a former Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town tactician, feels it is unlikely that Bafana will add a second AFCON title to their name after winning the 1996 edition.
The Turk believes that it is simply too soon for a relatively young and inexperienced team - still finding their feet under Mashaba.
"SA has not won a tournament since 1996 and before you think of becoming an all-conquering side, you need to have foundations in place that will be able to sustain the success," Ertugral told the Goal website.
"You can't expect them (Bafana) to win the Cup. It is impossible! This team needs time to form a solid unit. There is someone now in South Africa (Mashaba) who believes in youngsters and that's a step in the right direction."
Ertugral does, however, believe that South Africa can potentially make it through a very tough group phase, which sees them taking on Algeria, Ghana and Senegal.
"Coming to the Afcon group, they are going to face a baptism of fire against three top African sides. Algeria is the best team in Africa and have since had that great performance at the World Cup.," he said.
"Ghana is a good team with good quality men all-round and will be a difficult customer. With Senegal, you don't really know what you are going to get from them.
"Bafana have played with a new lease of life under the new coach and I predict that they will survive."
Optimism levels have risen around the country since Shakes Mashaba took charge of the national team and ensured that they secured their place at the tournament proper by winning their qualification group, which also contained Nigeria, Congo and Sudan.
But Ertugral, a former Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town tactician, feels it is unlikely that Bafana will add a second AFCON title to their name after winning the 1996 edition.
The Turk believes that it is simply too soon for a relatively young and inexperienced team - still finding their feet under Mashaba.
"SA has not won a tournament since 1996 and before you think of becoming an all-conquering side, you need to have foundations in place that will be able to sustain the success," Ertugral told the Goal website.
"You can't expect them (Bafana) to win the Cup. It is impossible! This team needs time to form a solid unit. There is someone now in South Africa (Mashaba) who believes in youngsters and that's a step in the right direction."
Ertugral does, however, believe that South Africa can potentially make it through a very tough group phase, which sees them taking on Algeria, Ghana and Senegal.
"Coming to the Afcon group, they are going to face a baptism of fire against three top African sides. Algeria is the best team in Africa and have since had that great performance at the World Cup.," he said.
"Ghana is a good team with good quality men all-round and will be a difficult customer. With Senegal, you don't really know what you are going to get from them.
"Bafana have played with a new lease of life under the new coach and I predict that they will survive."
