Publications
Partners
,Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana veteran MacBeth Sibaya says it will be up to the senior players in the national squad to carry the pressure in their AFCON qualifiers.
The midfielder, who plies his trade in Russia for Rubin Kazan, is expected to be named in Pitso Mosimane's 23-man squad that will face a gruelling journey to Sierra Leone to do duty in 10 days' time.
The 32-year-old, is currently one of the oldest players in national set-up and says he and stalwarts Aaron Mokoena and Steven Pienaar will be looking to guide the younger generation to a win away from home.
He told Football365.co.za: "It is going to be a difficult game because some of the young players haven't played in those conditions when you play in Africa.
"It will be my job as well as the other senior players to absorb the pressure and ensure that they are more relaxed."
In the last five years, dating back to September 3, 2005, South Africa have managed just four wins on the road in competitive World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifying and tournament games on the continent.
Pitso Mosimane's charges face the daunting prospect of an eight-hour flight and a dangerous hour-long ferry ride to the venue before facing a physically robust opponent.
The last time Bafana played Sierra Leone away was in a WC/AFCON qualifier on June 14, 2008 - a game they lost 1-0.
However, Sibaya believes they will turn this around when they face the Leone Stars in Freetown on October 10 in an AFCON qualifier.
"We need to show them (youngsters) direction of how we should win those kind of games in those kind of conditions," he concluded.
Sibaya forms part of the Rubin Kazan side that will face Barcelona in a Champions League clash in Russia on Wednesday evening.
The midfielder, who plies his trade in Russia for Rubin Kazan, is expected to be named in Pitso Mosimane's 23-man squad that will face a gruelling journey to Sierra Leone to do duty in 10 days' time.
The 32-year-old, is currently one of the oldest players in national set-up and says he and stalwarts Aaron Mokoena and Steven Pienaar will be looking to guide the younger generation to a win away from home.
He told Football365.co.za: "It is going to be a difficult game because some of the young players haven't played in those conditions when you play in Africa.
"It will be my job as well as the other senior players to absorb the pressure and ensure that they are more relaxed."
In the last five years, dating back to September 3, 2005, South Africa have managed just four wins on the road in competitive World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifying and tournament games on the continent.
Pitso Mosimane's charges face the daunting prospect of an eight-hour flight and a dangerous hour-long ferry ride to the venue before facing a physically robust opponent.
The last time Bafana played Sierra Leone away was in a WC/AFCON qualifier on June 14, 2008 - a game they lost 1-0.
However, Sibaya believes they will turn this around when they face the Leone Stars in Freetown on October 10 in an AFCON qualifier.
"We need to show them (youngsters) direction of how we should win those kind of games in those kind of conditions," he concluded.
Sibaya forms part of the Rubin Kazan side that will face Barcelona in a Champions League clash in Russia on Wednesday evening.
