23 November 2018 – Former Bafana Bafana and current Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has urged everyone, especially Premier Soccer League clubs to give the Senior Men’s National team their unqualified support if the country is to achieve its objectives of qualifying for Cameroon 2019 and performing well on the international stage.
The defending champions coach visited the Bafana Bafana dressing room soon after the team had played to a 1-1 draw with South American side Paraguay at Moses Mabhida stadium in the Nelson Mandela Challenge match this past Tuesday.
Addressing the players, coach Stuart Baxter, high ranking KZN Provincial MECs and SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan, Mosimane assured everyone present that Sundowns would do everything to help the nation.
“If Bafana Bafana do well, we all benefit as a country. If they qualify for Cameroon 2019, the experience they will gain in that competition will rub off our clubs and our football in general, so it is imperative that we all join hands to help Bafana Bafana do well.”
Mosimane said Sundowns has always worked together with the senior national team and would continue to do so going forward adding the performance of the squad was always a reflection of the clubs that supply the national team with players.
The former Bafana Bafana coach said it would be ideal for South Africa to have at least three friendly international matches before the trip to North Africa to meet Libya in the final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and that every must come to the party.
Bafana Bafana just need a draw to qualify while Libya need an outright win to force their way into the expanded 24-team tournament that will take place in Cameroon next year.
Mosimane said contrary to some sections of society he was satisfied with the progress of Baxter and his team following credible draws against Nigeria and Paraguay inside three days.
“Only pessimists will not see that as a big improvement; Nigeria were at the 2018 World Cup in Russia but Bafana Bafana matched them throughout the game while Paraguay are a football powerhouse. Baxter should build on this.
“Libya are not Nigeria and Libya are not Paraguay,” he said.