Bafana Bafana will be playing for their places in head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s final Soccer World Cup squad when the national side host Thailand in a friendly at the new Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday.
That was the message from Bafana skipper Teko Modise on Tuesday as the squad gear up for the business end of their preparations for the global showpiece which kicks off at the new multi-billion rand Soccer City on June 11 with Bafana hosting Mexico.
Said Modise: “We know little about Thailand and will be watching DVDs of their recent games, but the fact is we are fighting for our places in the squad. We all know what is at stake.
“The coach has to cut the squad from 30 to 23 on June 1. That is sad but a fact. So with time running out we have to perform against Thailand.
“We also owe it to our fans to win and keep the momentum going. I have not lost as captain during the last seven matches since Parreira took charge and I do not intend to lose that record against Thailand.”
But Modise stressed there were no nerves in the camp about Parreira swinging his big axe in two weeks. “I know the coach would love to keep all of us in camp, but he cannot so the fight is on to stay and be part of the World Cup on home soil.”
Modise was also frank about his and the other midfielder players’ failure to score goals over the past six months.
“I and the other midfielders feel bad about the fact the midfielders are not scoring enough goals. The bottom line is we cannot keep blaming our strikers.
“As midfielders we have to start taking responsibility and getting into more scoring positions and finishing those moves off. Hopefully we will turn that corner against Thailand.”
Modise said motivation was tops: “At the moment the spirit is sky high. We are fit, sharp and ready for Thailand and the other friendly matches lined up during the next month.”
Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is bursting with confidence and is hoping to shine on the world stage and catch the eye of a top European club.
“I am confident. The camps have helped to build a tremendous spirit and personally I cannot wait for the World Cup to start.”
Khune, 22, the Kaizer Chiefs star, admitted he dreams about playing in Europe at some stage but said his focus was on helping Bafana succeed at the World Cup and after that he will see what happens.
Meanwhile German based goalkeeper, Rowen Fernandez, arrived on Monday night and underwent a series of medical tests. If he passes those tests he will stay in the squad.
Fernandez, who plays in the German Second Division for Arminia Bielefeld, has been plagued with a series of injures over the past two seasons, but Parreira is hoping to use his experience at the World Cup. — Sapa