Dolly joined the Glamour Boys before of the current season, following a four-year stint with French top-flight team Montpellier.
For all the discussion of bringing in a new generation of Bafana Bafana players, the bottom line in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers is results, and someone like Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Keagan Dolly might have made a huge impact.
Dolly won the Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns in 2016, and despite being only 28 years old, the former Ajax Cape Town offensive midfielder seems to have been around forever. He did, after all, make his PSL debut in the 2012/13 season.
While he may still be working his way back to full match fitness, it is odd that he was left out of Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana team, which was selected to play back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana.
This is especially true given that some players who haven’t played for their teams at all this season were included to the squad.
[the_ad id=”2179″]Dolly has made a few of substitute appearances for Amakhosi before his signing, but he made his entire debut in the 2-1 victory over Baroka FC.
Having already shown several glimpses of his brilliance in two cameo substitute appearances (he created an assist for Khama Billiat with his first involvement as a Chiefs player), he was absolutely sensational against Baroka. Had Billiat been more clinical, Dolly could have had three or four assists that day.
Because of his inventiveness and vision, he appeared to sniff out openings in the opposing defense every time he had the ball. Few South African players have the deftness of touch and precision that Dolly possesses when it comes to delivering the final ball.
Against Zimbabwe, in the 0-0 draw in Harare on Friday, Dolly is exactly what Bafana Bafana was missing – a creative spark.
One can easily imagine Dolly combing with Percy Tau the way he has been with Billiat. It would be an exciting combination, and with Tau a little off the boil at the moment, someone like Dolly could be the perfect foil to spark him back into life.
Evidence Makgopa, Bafana’s beanpole young attacker, may flourish on Dolly’s pinpoint passes into the box. If played in by the type of defense-splitting balls Dolly can create, the speedy Bongokuhle Hlongwane might outrun most opponents.
In high-stakes games like World Cup qualifiers, players with a little amount of star power are required. He’s the type of person who can convert a 0-0 tie into a 1-0 victory.
[the_ad id=”2179″]In most cases, there’s no substitute for experience, class and composure. These are not elements which can be coached. And it’s not like Dolly is over the hill at 28.
It is nearly insane to leave out players of this level while expecting that a group of untested teenagers would come out on top in the punishing atmosphere of African World Cup qualifiers. Dolly is sure to be missed again by the home team when they face Ghana on Monday evening at the FNB Stadium.
