”Enjoy yourself,” was the parting advice of Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira to his 12 locally-based players before leaving OR Tambo Airport on Wednesday night for the challenge against world champions Italy in Siena next Wednesday.
The group will join 10 Europe-based members of the Bafana squad for five days at the Adidas Herzogenaurach headquarters in Nuremberg.
”It is a privilege to be honoured with a game against the current world champions,” said Parreira, ”but it is not my intention to try and hang on grimly in a defensive mode hoping to squeeze a draw”.
”Rather,” added the Bafana coach, ”I will tell the players to express themselves as best they can, demonstrate their skills and enjoy themselves during what will be an invaluable experience in the process of team-building for the 2010 World Cup.”
Bafana, with SuperSport United’s Ricardo Katza a late defensive replacement for the injured Bradley Carnell, will fly to Italy on Monday for the game at the Frachi Montepaschi Arena in Siena -‒ hoping to catch the world champions on the wrong foot after their European Nations Cup qualifier against Georgia.
While Italian manager Roberto Donadoni may rest some of his players after the important Georgia clash, his 22-man squad of talented Serie A stars are sure to put Bafana to the sword. – Sapa