MARK GLEESON, Kumasi | Friday 6.50pm.
BAFANA Bafana defender Mark Fish and his teammates are relishing the prospect of playing in front of a hostile capacity home crowd against co-hosts Ghana in Sunday’s African Nations Cup quarter-final.
”There’s nothing better than to play against a full crowd that is against us,” said the England-based defender on Friday.
”It’s a big challenge and it will only serve to spur us on.”
A capacity 40000 crowd is expected for the game, which will contrast with the low attendance that marked the opening round matches played in Kumasi.
”I hear the supporters in Kumasi are more passionate about the Ghanaian national team than those in Accra and we can’t wait to take on the challenge,” Fish said.
”It has happened to South African teams before in west Africa and we have come through with the win, so I don’t see why not here.”
Bafana coach Trott Moloto said on Friday that there are injury doubts about midfielder Eric Tinkler, who hurt an ankle against Algeria on Wednesday.
But Fish, who is Tinkler’s room mate at the tournament, said the Barnsley midfielder is confident of being fit for the quarter-final.
Sunday’s meeting will be the fourth between Ghana and South Africa, with Bafana Bafana having won twice before and one game drawn.
South Africa go into the game with two wins and a draw at this Nations Cup finals, while Ghana just squeaked into the quarter-finals on goal difference with four points from their three opening round games. — Reuters