Bafana Bafana’s new coach, Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, said the team’s first training camp with him had been a success.
”It was good. The players were committed and dedicated,” Parreira told reporters at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Parreira said everything went according to plan, with the only disturbance being the bustling Johannesburg traffic.
”The traffic disturbed us, it took an hour to get here.”
Parreira said he planned to make South Africa ”shine” again on the African continent.
”We have the talent, potential and good infrastructure,” he said.
He said Bafana Bafana might play a friendly game on March 13 before their African Nations qualifier against Chad at the end of that month.
Asked if the current squad was his final choice, Parreira said changes were expected in the future.
”This is a building process … I want to see as many players as I can see.”
He said the foundation for his team was in the current squad.
”We are not in the hurry to finalise the group.”
The players shared their coach’s sentiments about the success of the three-day training camp.
Russian-based midfielder Macbeth Sibaya said he was impressed by the coach’s vision for the team.
”He has been reminding us how good we are and our ability on the way we play,” said Sibaya, adding that the spirit was high in the camp.
Bradley Carnell said people should not expect miracles from the new coach.
”We need room to work and see what the trainer wants … but he is a well known coach, professional, and has worked with the best players in the world,” the Germany-based defender said.
”I am confident of things to come.”
Wednesday morning’s training session ended before 11am under cloudy skies.
It was not a good ending for Simphiwe Mkhonza of Kaizer Chiefs and Benedict Vilakazi of Orlando Pirates as they spent the last 20 minutes nursing injuries.
On Tuesday, Parreira had to release three players due to injuries: Simphiwe Tshabalala, Surprise Moriri and Dillon Sheppard.
Reporters were surprised to see the tall Ajax Cape Town and former Bafana goalkeeper Hans Vonk taking turns with Rowan Fernandez and Calvin Marlin in the goalposts, after having announced his retirement from international football in 2005.
”Hans sent us a letter saying he would retire [from professional football] … the idea is to make him goalkeeper coach for Bafana Bafana,” said Parreira.
Print journalists were not amused when South African Football Association spokesperson Gugu Marawa told them that Borussia Dortmund midfielder Steven Pienaar would only be interviewed by TV and radio reporters.
Marawa said that Pienaar’s objection to talking to print journalists was that he has been misquoted in the past. — Sapa