Bafana Bafana
Pitso: Let's be easy on Somma
2010-11-15 14:09
Johannesburg - Pitso Mosimane has urged Bafana Bafana supporters to go easy on new-boy Davide Somma if he makes his debut at the Cape Town Stadium.
The Leeds United marksman earned his first call-up to the national
team for Wednesday's friendly against USA and much of the interest in
the encounter surrounds the 25-year-old.
Most supporters have never seen the striker in action, but he has
been picking up the plaudits for the Whites in England's second
division.
Somma has netted seven times in 14 appearances this season and
has been rewarded with a new three-year deal at Elland Road, but
Mosimane has urged fans not to expect him to be a saviour.
When asked about the forward, he said: "He's a good player,
scores lots of goals and has good movement. He is good off the ball and
let's be honest, he isn't really a regular so we can't expect too much
from him.
"I've asked my IT guy to compile a small video clip of our last
three games so he can see the key parts of how we play as a team and
what is important to us.
"It is his first time, so give him a break. I didn't bring him
here to solve a problem, but to introduce him to the team and put some
pressure on the (other) strikers.
"Lots of Bafana strikers have scored on debut so if he does, it
will be nice for him. But that is not what I want - a goal. I just want
him to fit in with the team and do his best."
Meanwhile, Mosimane, who is "happy to be in Cape Town" and "happy
to have Bafana Bafana finally playing" in the Mother City, does not
want to make any excuses for his side ahead of the encounter.
The match will only kick off at 21:30 South African time and he
has just one-and-a-half training sessions to whip his boys into shape.
"Coaches are the last people to control the time. There are lots
of logistics involved. TV controls the game, we know that," added
Mosimane before joking that locally, even a soapie (Generations) can
dictate the time of a kick off.
"As long as USA are playing at the same time as us, we will have
no problem. I do not want to make excuses about time and training. We
must just get out there and perform on Wednesday."