Bafana Bafana have nothing to fear from Cameroon when they clash in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at Rustenburg’s Olympia Park on Wednesday night, says budding Bafana midfield star, Kagisho Dikgacoi.
”Why should we have any fear of Cameroon? We did not fear Nigeria when we played them and were unlucky to lose that African Nations Cup qualifier [in Port Elizabeth in September. Bafana lost 1-0]. Cameroon are bringing their top stars and that will be a good test for us as players.
”We will be able to gauge our strengths and progress we have made in the past few months. I believe we have improved a lot and really do not have anything to be afraid of. This is our last match of the year and we all know how important it is to do well in terms of the coach [Joel Santana] looking at finalising his squad for next June’s Confederations Cup.”
Dikgacoi, who plans to join English Premiership club Fulham in the January transfer window, said he cannot wait to test himself against the Indomitable Lions led by Barcelona superstar Samuel Eto’o.
”I impressed Fulham when I went on trial in the Premier Soccer League off-season, but I was told I did not have enough caps for Bafana to get a work permit. I was told I needed to have played 75% of my country’s internationals to qualify for a work permit in England. I hope by now I have enough caps to qualify for a British work permit, if not Fulham have told me they would appeal and try and make a plan for me.
”It is my dream and goal to play overseas, especially in the competitive English Premiership,” said the player who turns 24 on November 28 and he could hardly have asked for a better birthday present than a work permit to further his career.
Dikgacoi, who has played 17 times for Bafana and scored twice, was born in Brandfort in the Free State and is one of the genuine rising stars in the Bafana camp. The Golden Arrows skipper and midfielder, has never looked back since he made his international debut in a Cosafa Cup clash against Mauritius in Swaziland in May last year.
He won a winners medal for his country when Bafana edged out Zambia in a penalty shoot-out in the Cosafa Cup final last October. But it was his determination, tigerish tackling and ball-winning ability that impressed new Bafana coach Joel Santana and Fulham.
Said Dikgacoi: ”We have won three matches in a row now and if we beat Cameroon, then I believe we will have turned the corner.”
Under Santana, Bafana failed to qualify for the 2010 African Nations Cup finals to be staged in Angola for the first time since 1994. It was a major disappointment for players and fans that Bafana would not be in Angola in 2010 and using continental showpiece to prepare for the 2010 World Cup at home, but Dikgacoi said the team is gaining in confidence with each game and the players were looking forward to Cameroon at home and building for the Confederations Cup.
The squad assemble in Johannesburg on Monday before travelling to Rustenburg in the afternoon where they will have their first training session at 5pm. Kick-off is at 8.30pm on Wednesday. – Sapa