/ 27 January 2009

Santana builds towards Confederations Cup

Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana has said that Wednesday’s friendly against Zambia (8.30pm at the Super Stadium) will give his technical team another chance to reassess his squad of South Africa-based players.

”I am confident about how we will play the game given that we are using a team that has played together before, save for the new faces that we also want to have a look at,” said Santana.

”We have identified the bulk of our team for the Confederations Cup and we are looking at strengthening key positions for the final team. So, the game against Zambia will also enable us to select the team that will feature in the friendly against Chile.

”Football is a process where every match brings new objectives and in this case we are trying to get players to fill the positions where we are experiencing difficulties. You will note that the Zambians have also selected their locally based players, so I’m sure they will be as equally good,” he added.

Teko Modise, who will be captaining the team, says that it is very important for Bafana to have such matches as they prepare for the Confederations Cup.

”This is very important to me as a player, because some of us were discovered in such games, so it is very important for the new guys because they will definitely want to make a good impression. And this being is our first game of the year, I feel that we need to win this match and have a good start to the year,” said the captain. — Sapa