Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira believes the national team can reach at least the second round of the World Cup next June.
The Brazilian, who won the 1994 World Cup with his native Brazil, addressed the media in Johannesburg on Friday and spelt out his plans and the way forward for Bafana.
It was Parreira’s first media briefing after he was appointed two weeks ago to replace countryman Joel Santana, who quit last month after a string of poor results.
”I would not have accepted this position if I did not think Bafana had the ability to get to the knockout stages,” Parreira said on Friday.
”After that, the sky is the limit. A quarterfinal place is achievable. I would not be here if I did not have the confidence that the team could succeed at the World Cup,” he said.
He warned that Bafana could expect a ”war” in the World Cup finals.
”We need to prepare as warriors and be prepared to fight all-comers, lions, tigers elephants — whoever.
”We must be prepared and I believe I will get the squad ready in time.”
Parreira said he had not returned to coach Bafana because of the R1,6-million a month salary and incentives offered by the South African Football Association (Safa).
He left as national head coach last April because of his wife’s ill health and recommended Santana, who he still rates as ”a good coach”.
Santana left after 17 months, in which Bafana won only one of its last nine matches.
Safa then offered the job to Parreira, who accepted.
”I am not here for the money. I am here because of the honour and privilege of leading the host nation to the World Cup,” he said.
”This is special to me. I had received my offer from other clubs and two national teams to coach them. It was going to take something special for me to leave Rio [de Janeiro], and this it.
”I would not leave home for anything less. I want to finish what I started in February, 2007.”
He conceded that his first task would be to rebuild the confidence among the players.
”The best way to build up lost confidence is to get a winning mentality and to do that we have to start winning games.
”We have two friendly matches this month against Japan and Jamaica that are crucial to start the process of getting our confidence back.”
Bafana play Japan, who have qualified for the World Cup, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth next Saturday (November 14) and Jamaica in Bloemfontein on November 17.
‘We need to recapture the spirit on the field’
Parreira said he would have three months to prepare the squad ahead of the 2010 showpiece on home soil.
He would take Bafana to Brazil for a month’s training camp in March, during which at least 10 friendly matches would be played. He plans more camps in Germany and at home.
”The camp in Brazil will do wonders for the players’ confidence and they will learn a lot by playing against top Brazil sides while we are in camp.”
He said 140 players had been used since he joined Bafana in February 2007.
”Between myself and Santana we played 47 matches. The time for looking for new talent is past. We have given enough players a chance. We need to start working on the players who will play at the World Cup.”
Bafana’s performance in the Confederations Cup in June had given him confidence.
”We need to recapture the spirit on the field and from the fans that we saw in the Confederations Cup.
”Bafana did well against top sides like Brazil and Spain and there is no reason why we cannot succeed at the World cup — in fact, we will succeed at the World Cup. Otherwise there would be no point in me returning as head coach.”
He warned that he would not tolerate any trouble-makers in his squad.
Santana dropped Benni McCarthy and central defender Nasief Morris before the Confederations Cup for disciplinary reasons.
Blackburn Rovers striker McCarthy has been selected for the friendly matches against Japan and Jamaica. Morris, who plays in Spain, is still in Parreira’s plans.
”I am not going to allow any disruptions in the camp. I wanted Benni back because he can offer us a lot of experience. But he must get fit and show commitment. It is up to him if he wants to play at the World Cup. The door is open and the ball is in his court.”
Safa president Kirsten Nematandani said money would be no object in ensuring Parreira succeeded.
”We have good sponsors and will do whatever it takes to assist Parreira and his technical team. The goal is to succeed at the World Cup and we as Safa are fully committed and behind Parreira and his technical team,” he said. — Sapa