 Bafana Bafana have completed the first week of training in preparation for Egypt in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier scheduled to be played on Saturday, 26 March 2011 at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. The match kicks off at 20H05.
Bafana Bafana have been working hard at the Royal Marang Grounds where they have set up camp since Thursday, 17 March 2011.
The additional players that coach Pitso Mosimane had called up for observation have left camp and gone back to their clubs. The players – Happy Jele, Hlompho Kekana, Vuyisile Wana, Lehlohonolo Majoro, George Maluleka and Mark Mayambela – left the Bafana Bafana camp on Sunday after the morning’s training session. The overseas-based players were expected from Sunday, 20 March 2011.
Ajax Cape Town’s Thulani Serero, who has had a great season for his club so far, believes the clash against Egypt is one we have to win.
“We have been working very hard as a team because everyone is fighting for a place in the side and hopefully the results will go our way at the end of the day. As for me I am under no pressure at all to take my club form to the national team, but should I be given a chance I will certainly stick to my kind of game, no need to change anything because I am in Bafana Bafana. And like any other player here in camp, yes I would like to get an opportunity to represent my country but I know my time will come. The game against Egypt is a must win because we are playing at home and victory will make things easier for ourselves when we travel to Cairo. Playing them at home first gives us an advantage of doing well, but we should be well aware that it’s going to be very a tough match, they are not an easy side to defeat. We have to be at our best to come out with a victory” said Serero.
Goalkeeper Darren Keet, is also of the view that Bafana Bafana’s recent rise in the FIFA rankings should boost the players’ confidence.
“This week has been a great one, working with the best goalkeepers in Itumeleng Khune and Wayne Sandilands, one can only learn more from them. Bafana Bafana haven’t conceded too many goals in recent matches which tells you that the defence has been solid and we need to continue with that against Egypt who we know can be very dangerous. But we have some of the best players in the country here in camp so there is no reason we should not win this one. We should not put ourselves under pressure though, but we know what we must do and we just have to go out and win. Bafana Bafana have been rising on the Coca Cola FIFA World Rankings and this has brought some confidence in the team,” said Keet. |
