Bafana Bafana
Igesund calls for patience
2013-01-04 14:14
Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has urged South African fans not to read too much into their upcoming results against Norway and Algeria.
According to the supersport.com website, the national team take on Norway in Cape Town on Tuesday and then meet Algeria in Johannesburg on January 12, their final warm-up matches before the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
It presents too tough challenges for Bafana and, perhaps mindful of the negative mindset among many fans to the national team, Igesund says two defeats should not cause alarm.
“Results are always important because they breed confidence, but I might not play our strongest team in either game as we are still looking at what combinations will work best for us,” Igesund says. “So it is not going to be a train-smash if we draw or lose, it will not be the end of the world. To me, the only result that really matters is the one on the 19th against Cape Verde.”
Igesund reiterates that there is likely to be plenty of experimentation in his starting line-ups for the two matches.
“I need to know my players inside out, so that when I need someone to change a game situation for me, I know who to call on. I need to know everything about my squad before the Nations Cup so that when we are in the heat of battle, we can make the right decisions.
“These two games will give me the opportunity to do that.”