Bafana complete preparations ahead of Namibia clash

Bafana Bafana have completed preparations for their COSAFA CUP Zambia 2013 quarterfinal clash against Namibia.

The match will be played at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia.

Kickoff is at 15h30.

South Africa has been beset by challenges with players withdrawing from the squad due to the tournament not falling in the FIFA calendar. But head coach Gordon Igesund has been able to get his team settled, and after two training sessions in the captain Lusaka is confident to face Namibia.

“I am happy to be in this situation because most players do well under pressure and this might be a good thing for us. I am just hopeful that the selected players get to show the country what they are about,” said Igesund.

“We have a group of very talented and hungry players who are ready to prove themselves. Even though we have had only two training sessions, I have seen the passion and determination in these players. I believe they can do it.”

South Africa comes up against a Namibia side that has scored six goals in two matches in the Cosafa Cup tournament so far, and could prove a hard nut to crack for Bafana Bafana. Namibia defeated Mauritius 2-1 and downed the Seychelles 4-2 to reach the quarterfinals.

Bafana Bafana’s opponents are led by coach Ricardo Mannetti, who played under Igesund at Santos, and might want to prove a point.

The two sides have met five times before – South Africa winning two times, Namibia once and the other two matches drawn.

In the first match in 1998, Namibia beat Bafana Bafana 3-2 in the Cosafa Cup. A month later South Africa reversed the results, emerging 4-1 winners in the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Burkina Faso.

The following year the two countries played to a one-all draw in another COSAFA Cup clash, while Bafana Bafana won a friendly international match one nil in 2006 before another one-all draw in 2010.

- SAFA