Bafana
Bafana returned to training on Monday, 10 June 2013 - after a day off on Sunday
- in preparation for the all-important Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying
match against Group A leaders Ethiopia in Addis Ababa on Sunday.
National
team coach Gordon Igesund believes that only victory in the remaining two
matches against Ethiopia and Botswana will keep Bafana in contention for the
2014 Fifa World Cup.
With
two rounds of matches remaining, South Africa and Ethiopia are neck and neck in
the race for top spot in Group A. The Ethiopians lead the group with 10 points,
two ahead of South Africa.
The
team that finishes top of the group will proceed to the play-offs – to be
played on home and away basis. The winners will secure a place to the World Cup
scheduled for 2014 in Brazil.
Sunday’s
match will take place at the National Stadium, on the same day Central African
Republic (CAR) face Botswana in another Group A encounter which has little
meaning.
Both
Botswana and CAR have been eliminated from the race following their respective
losses at the weekend. Botswana only has one point with CAR sitting on t hree,
South Africa is third with eight points, two adrift of Ethiopia.
“The
situation is self-explanatory; you do not need to be a rocket scientist to see
what needs to be done. We both have two games left, so for us only a win will
keep us in contention. We needed to get the three points from CAR, and all
along I have been saying the key game will be against Ethiopia,” said Bafana
head coach Igesund.
“But
the nice thing is that it is in our hands. We need to win this game and then
beat Botswana and qualify for the next and final round of qualifiers. We have
to take each game as it comes but a draw is not good for us. I am confident we
will be well-prepared for this match.”
Midfielder
Reneilwe Letsholonyane and defender Anele Ngcongca were rested from training as
a precautionary measure.
“The
boys are fine, we just didn’t want to take chances and have them train when
resting would serve them better. Letsholonyane has a minor groin strain while
Anele is suffering from slight thigh muscles. Tomorrow they will train with the
rest of the team,” added Igesund.
The
Bafana Bafana mentor is well aware that another solid game plan and execution
will see his side through.
“We
are studying the video of the match between Botswana and Ethiopia, and I will
have a good game plan for Sunday. What I do know is that they don’t have to win
the match, a draw will suit them fine so I don’t expect them to attack a lot,
but we will have to attack them,” he said.
- SAFA
