Bafana will come to the party - Pitso
|Published
New Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane, has asked his players to "come to the party" when they face Ghana in a friendly international at Soccer City tomorrow night (kickoff 8.35pm).
It will be Mosimane's first match in charge since taking over the reins from Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, whose contract with the national squad ended after the World Cup finals last month.
"I am looking for continuity," Mosimane said. "We all know how good Ghana are. They were the best African side at the World Cup, but I believe we can beat them. I am not making any promises, but I have confidence in my players, who I know will come to the party in my first game in charge of Bafana."
Ghana, with the bulk of their World Cup stars, jetted into OR Tambo Airport yesterday to prepare for what promises to be a mouth-watering baptism for the new coach.
Of the 22 players Mosimane selected, only Russian-based Macbeth Sibaya and right back Anele Ngcongca, who scored for his Belgium club Racing Genk in the 4-0 rout of Ghent on Sunday, are not in camp. Both are expected to arrive today.
"I have been impressed by the commitment shown by all the players and their willingness to get to Joburg for this match. It is very encouraging," said Mosimane. "Anele and MacBeth played on Sunday, so they will arrive on Tuesday."
Mosimane is using this friendly to prepare for the opening African Nations Cup qualifier at home to Niger next month.
"On paper, Ghana are better than Niger, so they will provide us with the ideal test. It is important to win, but at the same time, I will be making lots of changes and looking at as many players as possible," Mosimane says.
"The performance will be as important as a good result. I realise we are in pre-season, but this game will be good for the players and to show me where we are going."
Mosimane faces a headache of who he will field at the heart of his defence, having selected four players for the two central defensive positions. Captain Aaron Mokoena, Morgan Gould, Siyabonga Sangweni and Bevan Fransman are competing for two spots in the backline.
"I want to look at all four if possible. I will give Mokoena and Sangweni 45 minutes. I need to have a longer look at Gould, who missed the World Cup due to injury and is now fully fit and needs to get a chance to reclaim his place."
Gould's injury opened the door for his SuperSport United captain Bongani Khumalo at the World Cup. Khumalo then played every minute of Bafana's three matches and shone. Ironically, Khumalo is now injured and misses the Ghana showdown, which will allow Gould to stake his claim for a starting place against Niger.
There is only one doubtful starter in 20-year-old midfielder Andile Jali. The promising Orlando Pirates star replaced injured English-based Kagisho Dikgacoi at the weekend, but he suffered an ankle injury during Bucs' 1-0 Telkom Charity Cup win over AmaZulu at Soccer City on Saturday.
"We are waiting for the results of a scan on his ankle," Bafana team doctor Ephraim Nematswerani said.
Meanwhile, Mosimane said the door had not been closed on any player, including English-based striker Benni McCarthy, who was excluded from the World Cup squad due to a lack of fitness.
"If I need a player such as McCarthy, and I believe he can do a job for me, then why not select him? But having said that, I have to think ahead to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil," Mosimane said. "I will use older players (such as 32-year-old McCarthy) only if I believe they can help us qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup. But I am not closing the door on any player." - Sapa