Time for talking is over, now is time for action.
Time for talking is over, now is time for action.
Those are the words from Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba after taking his squad went through their paces at Peter Mokaba Stadium, the venue of the crucial FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier against Senegal on Saturday, 12 November 2016.
Bafana Bafana play the West Africans in the second World Cup qualifier in which the winner will top the Group going into the Festive Season break and will have scored a psychological advantage on who ultimately goes to Russia in 2018.
“We know what we need to do. We have been in Polokwane for the past week and we are now ready. We need to win this encounter and that is not debatable,” said coach Mashaba.
The Senior Men’s National team coach said he was happy with the week’s exercise and said it was up to the team to deliver for the nation.
Despite some persistent heavy rains which have fallen in the past week which are set to make the playing surface a bit quicker, Mashaba said he was looking forward to victory.
Bafana Bafana played to a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso last month while Senegal went through a routine 2-0 win over Cape Verde at home but Mashaba said what happened in those matches will have no bearing on tomorrow’s outcome.
“I have always insisted that if we are to go to Russia, we have to win all our home matches and strive to get something on the road.”
Senegal meanwhile, have also been in town for the past week and have held mostly closed training session since their arrival in Polokwane.
Boasting some of top players who ply their trade in top overseas clubs, Senegal will be looking forward to cement their top position with a result over the home side. But that would be easier said than done considering the mood in which Bafana Bafana are in.
In their last sessions on Friday 11 November, both Bafana Bafana and the Teranga Lions trained in drizzling rains at Peter Mokaba Stadium ahead of Saturday’s crunch encounter.
Bafana Bafana were addressed by SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan who impressed upon the players the need to win Saturday’s highly charged encounter.