Former Bafana Bafana star striker, Phil ”Chippa” Masinga, is confident Carlos Alberto Parreira will turn Bafana Bafana’s fortunes around ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals on home soil next June.
Parreira, who won the World Cup with his native Brazil in the United States in 1994, was re-appointed as Bafana head coach last month after the departure of out of touch Joel Santana.
Bafana dropped to 85th in the world rankings last month after losing eight of their last nine internationals.
But stated Masinga: ”There is no need to panic. We have the players to do the job.
”The World Cup is a tournament and we showed we have good ability by reaching the semifinals of the Confederations Cup which is also played in a tournament format.
”I do not agree with people who say that as we only managed a win in that tournament against lowly New Zealand we did now do well.
”We really played some good soccer in matches against Brazil and Spain and that lifted the whole country and gives me confidence Bafana will get past the second round at the World Cup.”
Masinga played in the 1998 World Cup finals in France and apart from a winners medal in the African Nations Cup in 1996, he was part of the side that finished runners up to Egypt in the 1998 Afcon in Mali.
Parreira quit as Bafana coach last year in April in favour of fellow Brazilian Santana, citing his wife’s illness at the time for his sudden departure.
However, Masinga one of the stars of Bafana’s 1996 Afcon triumph and who played 58 times for his country scoring 18 goals, supports the move by the South African Football Association to re-hire Parreira.
Said Masinga: ”Parreira started a plan about three years back with Bafana and now he will continue.
”What is positive is the players know where they stand with Parreira, they respect him and he is not likely to make wholesale changes.
”Making major changes in playing personel is not the answer and I am sure Parreira knows that.”
But Masinga stressed that Parreira’s first job would be to bring back the confidence that was battered during Santana’s disastrous 17 months in charge.
Said Masinga, who played in the English Premiership with Leeds United and the Italian Seri A with Bari: ”Parreira has to gain the players’ confidence.
”He must inspire them and bring back the self belief and I believe he can do it.
”The fact we have two matches this month at home against Japan [Rand Stadium on November 14] and Jamaica [Bloemfontein November 17] will help him sort out his players and get us back onto a more positive track.”
Masinga said he could not understand Santana’s policy of playing a number of friendly matches in Europe. Of the six friendly internationals played since Bafana reached the semifinals of the Confederations Cup at home in June, four have been played in Europe against Germany, Ireland, Norway and Iceland and Bafana lost all four.
Said Masinga: ”What I cannot understand is we are hosting the World Cup at home so why make the team travel to foreign countries to play friendly matches when we should be playing those games at home to build up support and build up confidence.
”If I was Parreira I would not play any more away friendly matches until after the World Cup.”
Masinga also believes Parreira should bring back striker Benni McCarthy. ”We need to use Benni’s experience. I accept he is not playing regularly in England for Blackburn Rovers, but Benni is still a brilliant finisher and could be used to inspire the other players around him.”
Masinga said he rated Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela highly. This season Mphela has scored 10 goals for his club and is the PSL’s leading scorer and netted two brilliant goals for Bafana in the third place play off against Spain which Bafana lost 3-2 after extra time.
”I would use Benni on the bench and play Mphela. That would boost Mphela’s confidence and keep him on his toes knowing he is keeping a big player like Benni on the bench.
”I think Mphela could be one of the stars to shine at the World Cup. I do not think it will be too long before we turn the corner under Parreira.” — Sapa