WEDNESDAY, 12.00 NOON:
BAFANA BAFANA coach Clive Barker said his charges will go for a kill in their Confederations Cup Group B match against Uraguay in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday nights.
South Africa’s 1-0 loss to United Arab Emirates on Monday has put pressure on the African Champions to win this game at all costs if they still dream of reaching the semi-finals on Friday. A draw is not enough for Bafana Bafana. The result will also depend on the other Group B game between Czech Republic and the United Arab Emirates. If the Czechs win that game, then South Africa will have to win by a wider margin to edge the Czechs on goal difference.
South Africa’s finishing has been dissappointing and Barker said they have worked on that. He said he made target shooting his priority at training.
“I think it would have been more devastating had we been thumped 4-0, but we had the possesion and the chances, but only poor shooting let us down,” said Barker.
The team will be strengthened by the availability of captain Lucas Radebe, Eric Tinkler and Doctor Khumalo, who missed Monday’s game because of a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, the South African Football Association has decided not to take any disciplinary action against Radebe and Tinkler, who failed to arrive for the game against United Arab Emirates. Barker also said that Safa has learnt that Augusto Palacios is not to blame, as he also did everthing right in ensuring that the players travelled without hassles.