/ 27 September 2007

Parreira takes aim at authorities

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has criticised the South African soccer authorities for not showing more concern in his quest to shape up his team for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

”We are hosting the World Cup in two-and-a-half years and people don’t seem to understand the urgency in preparing the team for it,” said Parreira.

”The Cosafa Cup is a pain in the neck as it is not a Fifa-sanctioned tournament, and clubs therefore don’t want to release their players.”

Parreira referred to his recent altercations with Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs competing in the lucrative Telkom Knockout Cup this weekend.

Kaizer Chiefs are one of the teams who have refused to release players Parreira wanted for his team to face Botswana at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday in the semifinals of the regional Cosafa Cup tournament.

”We agreed two months ago with the PSL and the South African Football Association about the players I wanted for this game, but now I have had to change the team again,” a visibly irritated Parreira said.

”We have a plan to build a team for the World Cup and we have to see more players to prepare properly. This is not good for South African football and it is not good for the team.”

Platinum Stars goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands, Orlando Pirates defender Innocent Mdledle and Jomo Cosmos defender Thapelo Tshilo are among the new players called up for this modest tournament, which Bafana have only won once in its 11-year existence.

”This is not a big tournament, it’s not like the African Nations Cup and it’s not known internationally, but it is a time for me to assess players who are on the fringe of making the team,” said Parreira. — Sapa