Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena says his side will be taking no chances when they host Uganda in a crucial World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off is at 4pm.
Bafana head the African group-two standings with nine points after the five teams in the group completed their five first-round fixtures last October.
”We have the experience and the players to beat Uganda. But playing these underdogs can be a problem. We must not allow ourselves to get under pressure. We should start by attacking Uganda [to] get an early goal and lay the platform for victory.
”The players realise how important the three points are to us,” said Mokoena, who has become a regular with English Premiership club Blackburn Rovers, which he joined in January.
”My confidence is high and I am looking forward to play Uganda,” said Mokoena.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter simply said after training at the Wits sports grounds on Wednesday: ”We have to be ruthless and clinical. We have to collect three points. It is as simple as that.”
Baxter has assembled a powerful squad laced with South Africa’s leading overseas-based players.
Apart from Mokoena, other top-class European-based stars in the line-up include Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Hans Vonk; his teammate and midfield playmaker Steven Pienaar; midfield powerhouses Quinton Fortune of Manchester United and German-based Delron Buckley; and strikers Shaun Bartlett — who plays for another English Premiership club, Charlton Athletic — and Benni McCarthy of FC Porto.
Said Bartlett: ”We have a good squad here and the spirit is high. The team has progressed and improved over the last six months. I reckon Uganda will be defensive and it will be up to us to make sure we open up their defence and score the goals to take us to a win and three points.”
Baxter added: ”We must win our remaining three qualifying home matches to reach the World Cup finals in Germany next year. It all starts in Johannesburg on Saturday.” — Sapa