Soccer
Bafana star in demand
2009-05-19 15:15
Bafana Bafana holding midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi is set to play in Europe after the Confederations Cup next month.
In an interview on Tuesday the Golden Arrows captain and midfield anchorman revealed that he was weighing up his options after two English, a Greek and Russian club have shown interest in his services.
The hard tackling Dikgacoi (24) who had trials with English Premiership outfit Fulham last year had tentative offers from another Premiership side Portsmouth, plus relegated West Bromwich Albion, Greek giants Panathinaikos and an unnamed Russia side.
Training with Fulham last year gave the quiet spoken Arrows and Bafana midfield strongman the hunger for international soccer.
Said Dikgacoi: "I will make a decision on my future after the Confederations Cup. I failed to sign for Fulham because I had not earned enough caps for Bafana at that stage and could not get a work permit in England and the deal fell through. But that has changed now. I need to play two more games during the Confederations Cup and I will have enough caps for an English work permit."
But Dikgacoi is keeping his options open. He explained: "The Confederations Cup will be my shop window. There will be a lot of overseas scouts at the tournament and it is up to me to perform well. But first I have to run my heart at training and catch the technical team's eye and make sure I am in their plans for the opening match against Iraq."
The Brandfort born midfielder said he was ready to move and had played his last game for Arrows. Said Dikgacoi: "I need to play overseas to further develop my career. I am looking forward to playing in the Confederations Cup which will be a tremendous experience for me and the rest of my teammates."
Dikgacoi has a strong self belief his hard tackling no nonsense style of play is well suited to the English game.
He said: "I always play hard and that was what impressed Fulham and now Portsmouth and West Brom have come into the picture I am excited about the prospect of furthering my career in England. But if either move does not work out I have other good options open to me."
Dikgacoi said that Bafana would not make the mistake of underestimating either Iraq or New Zealand who Bafana meet in the opening two Confederations Cup matches. Bafana open the tournament against the Asian champions Iraq at Ellis Park on June 14 and three days later play the Kiwis at Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
They finish their Group A schedule against European and the world's number one ranked side Spain in Bloemfontein on June 20.
Said Dikgacoi: "We know that we have to collect six points from the games against Iraq and New Zealand. We don't want to leave to the final game against Spain to qualify for the semifinals. The confidence is high in camp but at the same time we have been warned not to underestimate either Iraq or New Zealand who we know little about. The fact we are in the dark as to what to expect from either side will help keep us on our toes."
Dikgacoi said the players had confidence in coach Joel Santana to guide Bafana into the semifinals and final. He said: “We have been together as players with the coach for nearly a year now. We understand what he wants and his tactics. I strongly believe that we can achieve our goal of qualifying for the semifinals and final."
But he admitted that the goal scoring had been a problem in the past but hope that the strikers would rise to the big occasion.