/ 7 December 2009

Mexico wary of Bafana Bafana

Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre expects a tough match when his team faces Bafana Bafana in the opening match of 2010 Fifa World Cup.

This reporter briefly caught up with Aguirre after he spoke to the media at the post-draw press conference last Friday.

Aguirre told the Mail & Guardian: ‘Carlos Alberto Parreira is a respected coach around the world and he knows exactly what he is doing, so it is going to be a tough game for us against Bafana Bafana.

‘We have a 50-50 chance of winning against them but the South Africans know their football pitches very well. This is generally a tough group for us and we are proud to play against Bafana Bafana in the opening match,” he said.

Bafana Bafana have faced Mexico on three occasions. The Mexicans have won two of the meetings, thumping Bafana Bafana 4-0 and 4-2. Bafana Bafana have only beaten Mexico once by 2-1.

South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France are in the same group.