South Africa gets new look

 JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- Apartheid is history, along with the second-class status given to the black majority and its favorite sport -- soccer. Now, heading into their first World Cup, the South Africans want a lot more than just a good showing.
 They want victories.
 South Africa, banned for 29 years from international soccer because of apartheid, is one of five African countries among the 32 countries in the biggest World Cup to date.
 Almost six years after the world governing body of soccer lifted the ban, the team called Bafana Bafana (Zulu for The Boys, or literally Boys) has risen from the obscurity of isolation to claim one African championship, finish runner-up in another and qualify for the World Cup on its second try.
 The climb has been difficult, without a victory against any European or world-class side so far. But coach Phillipe Troussier and the soccer-mad country hope that all changes in France.
 "I'm very optimistic that South Africa can do well and not just be passengers," said Troussier, a Frenchman who took over just last month.
 The World Cup draw was not kind -- France, Denmark and a disciplined Saudi Arabia in pool C. Until its second-place finish at the African Nations Cup tournament in February, South Africa appeared certain to watch the second round on television.
 Bafana Bafana had failed to win a match since August 1997 and were in disarray. They were no longer using their trademark tough-marking defence and opportunistic attack and instead showed the selfish, undisciplined play common in Africa
 Clive Barker, who coached South Africa to its 1996 African Nations Cup victory, quit in December after a disastrous Confederations Cup tournament in which Bafana Bafana were the only winless side, tying the Czech Republic and losing to Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
 Then Jomo Sono, the former pro star, took over as interim coach with the task of laying a foundation for Troussier, who was under contract in Burkina Faso until March.
 Sono immediately dropped some veterans who were favorites under Barker -- midfielders Doctor Khumalo and Eric Tinkler, defender and former captain Neil Tovey, goalkeeper Andre Arendse. He replaced them with young players like Benedict McCarthy, an Ajax Amsterdam forward given few chances previously.
 In two months, Sono put together a scrappy, quicker team that played a more challenging style. The winless streak continued until South Africa's third match of the opening round at the African Nations Cup tournament in Burkina Faso, when McCarthy scored four goals in the first 20 minutes in a 4-1 triumph over Namibia and a quarter-final berth.
 A 2-1 victory over Morocco -- with goals from McCarthy and David Nyathi, another forgotten player under Barker -- gave South Africa a semifinal spot and the satisfaction of beating Africa's top-ranked side.
 McCarthy then scored both goals in a 2-1 overtime victory against Congo, and despite a 2-0 loss to Egypt in the final, he finished tied as leading scorer with seven goals.
 "There was a lot of pressure on us as defending champions and we handled it well," captain Lucas Radebe of Leeds United said after losing toe Egypt. "This will stand us in good stead for France.
 "There has been an incredible bond forged between all the players."
 Now Troussier plans to assess players from the two eras -- under Barker and Sono -- to create a mix of experience and youth that he can mold as his own.
 "It was very important to bring in young talent, fresh minds and ambitious souls," said Troussier, who has a long resume in Africa, including a stint in South Africa coaching the Soweto township-based Kaizer Chiefs. "That creates competition and commitment from everyone, including the dropped players."
 He has consistently mentioned one name -- Khumalo, the midfielder with a deft passing touch and good instinct -- when insisting that veterans axed by Sono will be reconsidered.
 Khumalo, formerly of the Columbus Crew in the U.S., would be a potential feeder for McCarthy and Phil Masinga, the Bari-based striker who is South Africa's all-time leading scorer.
 Other veterans who could get a second chance are Arendse and Tinkler, while Radebe, Masinga, Nyathi of St. Gallen, Mark Fish of Bolton Wanderers, speedy Helman Mkhalele of Kayserispor and John Moshoeu appear set as the nucleus.
 "I don't have time to teach," Troussier said, "that's why I'm looking for operational players who are ready now."