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Bafana: Room for improvement

Durban - Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was full of smiles after his players romped to an easy 6-2 win over minnows Swaziland in a training match played at the Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday.

He said the performance of certain players was encouraging and gave him a big headache for future matches and camps.

Stressed Parreira: “This is exactly what I wanted to achieve with this first camp of 2010.

"I wanted players to fight for their positions. We have two more camps – in March and April where we will be going to Brazil and Germany - to fine tune my preparations for the World Cup in June.

"And on this showing it looks like there will be plenty of competition for places. That is very pleasing to any coach when players rise to the occasion.”d

Although this was an unofficial match and no caps awarded, it was the first time in Bafana’s history they have scored more than four goals in an official or unofficial match and Parreira said the scoreline had done wonders for the players confidence.

Said the former World Cup winner with home nation Brazil: “It was a fantastic confidence booster for the players.

"It does not matter who you play against, it is always nice to score six goals. It was a good start to our 2010 World Cup preparations but there is still a long way to go.”

Parreira said while a number of players - such as Mamelodi Sundowns midfielders Franklyn Cale, Matthew Pattison, and Orlando Pirates striker Gert Schalkwyk - had put up their hands for a place in the starting line-up against Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday night, he was worried about conceding two soft goals.

“We need to tighten up our defence ahead of Zimbabwe and that is something I will be looking to rectify at training on Monday and Tuesday.”

Both Cale and Schalkwyk scored two goals each while Katlego Mphela and newcomer Thulani Serero scored the others.

“It was a positive start, but we need to work on our mistakes. There is plenty room for improvement.

"But this is a good start and we need to take this winning momentum into our match against Zimbabwe.”

Parreira played two different teams in each half and said he would not be making too many changes to the side that started the game when he selects his starting line-up against Zimbabwe.

“I have managed to achieve my main goal and that as to have a look at a number of new players. This match gave me that opportunity and I was pleased with what I saw."

Sundowns central defender Matthew Booth, who captained the “Second X1” and is set to be one of the changes in the starting line-up against Zimbabwe where he is expected to be named as skipper, admitted he was at fault for the Swazis second goal.

“I have to put up my hand and admit it was my fault. Maybe I was a bit rusty after the break, but that is no excuse and I will make sure we are tighter against Zimbabwe.”

Swaziland head coach Shakes Mashaba, who is a former Bafana coach, said his players lacked the big match temperament.

“We conceded three goals in the first half and were always fighting to catch up. Bafana played well and showed that they are hungry to get back on track for the World Cup.

"It was a tough learning experience for most of my players.”

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