Thembinkosi ”Terror” Fanteni and Surprise Moriri are aiming to continue where they left off last Saturday when they lead the Bafana Bafana attack against unknown Sierra Leone in Freetown on Saturday night. Kick-off is at 6.30pm South African time.
Both hit the back of the net in Bafana’s stunning 4-1 win over Equatorial Guinea in their 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Group Four qualifier played at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium.
It was Israel-based Fanteni’s first goal for Bafana and Moriri’s third.
Successive Bafana coaches have been searching for a replacement for leading goal scorer Benni McCarthy. The Blackburn Rovers striker once again turned his back on Bafana when he failed to honour new coach Joel Santana’s call-up late last month to join the camp for the four crunch Group Four qualifiers in June.
But Santana may have found the answer to the unpredictable McCarthy in Fanteni and Moriri.
Bafana lost 2-0 away to Nigeria and followed that up with their easy 4-1 home win over Equatorial Guinea. But they face a stern test away to the Leone Stars.
What shone through against Equatorial Guinea was the new-found confidence in Fanteni and Moriri.
Fanteni has played 14 games for Bafana, mainly as a substitute, and last Saturday was his first goal.
Said Fanteni: ”That was the best tonic ever — scoring my first goal for my country. It has given me added confidence. I have more self belief and hopefully I can carry on where I left off against Sierra Leone.”
He made a promise to Santana after the national squad wrapped up their training at the Pilditch Stadium before leaving for Freetown on Wednesday night: ”If the coach selects me again, I will give an extra 100%. I badly want to keep this winning momentum going.”
Fanteni’s move to Maccabi Haifa in December has also helped gain confidence for the well-built 24-year-old.
Moriri, who scored only his third international goal in 18 caps against Equatorial Guinea, said: ”We are geared up for Sierra Leone. We have worked and prepared hard this week.
”We know it will be a lot tougher that Equatorial Guinea, but scoring in the 4-1 win was good and the spirit in the squad has been lifted. We must be strong when we face Sierra Leone. We have the ability to get three points and that is what we are aiming for.” — Sapa