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Cape Town - Stand-in Bafana Bafana captain Itumeleng Khune has done his due diligence by reminding the rest of the squad what it means to wear the national team shirt.
The Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper, who has assumed the role of captain in the absence of Bidvest Wits defender Thulani Hlatshwayo, has reiterated that general feeling of the South Africa national team being underachievers.
After consecutive defeats to Cape Verde, the 2018 World Cup dream in Russia seems out of reach and Khune claims the country needs to start taking inspiration from those of the past like the class on '98 - which was the last Bafana team to qualify for a World Cup.
"It's important for all of us as a team. We know the importance of qualifying for the World Cup. We haven't qualified since the Class of '98," he told reporters.
"With the crop of players we have now, we are very talented but we don't realise it. We always want to be reminded. So it's about time we all realise how talented we are and we need to move the country forward."
With pundits and local media speculating the recent troubles on field could be a psychological issue, Khune denied that a professional has been hired to join the in the training camp ahead of the Burkina Faso fixture at Soccer City this Saturday.
"For us as players, we haven't met them, I don't know about the technical team."
Meanwhile Khune has been struggling with a shoulder injury himself, sustained at his club, but is confident he will be ready for the Burkinabe.
"I will be fine for the match, it’s a very important game for all of us and we need all the players fit to go compete and make the country proud," said Khune after their training session as quoted by the official SAFA website.
After three games played Baxter's men find themselves at the foot of Group D with just one point and will need to win their remaining two fixtures to stand a chance of qualifying.
