Tournament News

Dikgacoi: Parreira will get us fit

2009-12-09 10:24
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Kagiso Dikgacoi (File)
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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana midfielder Kagiso Dikgacoi has backed Carlos Alberto Parreira's managerial regime to dramatically improve the fitness levels of the squad ahead of next year's World Cup.

The Brazilian coach bemoaned the match fitness of the side during last month's friendlies with Japan and Jamaica, with the likes of Benni McCarthy and Dikgacoi himself singled out.

However, the former Golden Arrows captain, who now plays for English Premier League side Fulham, believes that a series of intensive training camps in the build-up to the tournament could work wonders for some of the locally-based players in the squad.

"The training camps next year will be very important because it will mean we can spend time together and develop our tactics for the World Cup," he told Football365.co.za.

"I know for a fact that there are massive differences between the PSL and the English Premier League. Over here, the game is very physical and played at a much faster pace and I think that our local players can suffer when they come up against European-based teams. Hopefully Parreira can help us reach a level where we can compete with them in time for next year."

Despite the negativity that has surrounded Bafana following the World Cup draw, which saw them being paired with France, Mexico and Uruguay, Dikgacoi is confident the side can progress through to the second round.

He said: "I was happy with the draw and I believe we have a great chance of qualifying. If we can win the first game against Mexico and get a result against Uruguay then hopefully that can give us the motivation we need going into the final match with France."

Before then, top of the 25-year-old's wish-list will be the task of winning a regular place in Fulham's starting line-up. Sent off on his Premier League debut against West Ham at the start of October, Dikgacoi has been confined to the bench in recent matches as Roy Hodgson's side have recovered from a slow start to move up to eighth in the table.

"I was unfortunate to get sent off on my debut and since then Jonathan Greening and Chris Baird have been doing well in the central midfield positions," he admitted.

"Now it's up to me to work hard and try to get back into the starting line-up but the positive thing is that I am always being named in the matchday squad and managing to make some appearances from the bench. I'm happy with that because it shows I'm still in the coach's plans."

The defensive midfielder will once again be forced to watch from the sidelines when Fulham travel to meet Swiss side Basle next week needing a victory to progress from Group E of the Europa League. Having missed out being registration for the competition due to the date he moved to England, Dikgacoi is hoping a positive result could see him added to the squad for the competitions' later stages.

He said: "It would be a great experience for me to play in the Europa League because some of the best sides in Europe are there including Roma and Liverpool. It was always my dream to play at the top level of European football and I'm delighted with how well it is going so far." 

 

Your Comments

G man12/11/2009 11:00 PM
i just love it when the ref says crouch , touch and u see the guts hanging out - rugby footballer se moer. all they can do is bend over and push and the ball is just something they walk over.
Chris12/11/2009 8:32 AM
Still talking fitness at this level, what next! Just when you think you,ve heard it all, only in SA.
@AL12/9/2009 7:52 PM
Same can be said about weight lifting as compared to Rugby. Now that is real hard work lifting or draggin a huge truck while only less than half the world cares...You go and tell Messi or Ronaldo that what they do is nothing special compared to scrumming or even throwing a cricket ball.
You Rudebox me, I Rudebox Your Whole Crew12/9/2009 7:27 PM
Nothing wrong with what let lolo to make such comments. Just like in a school play yard, you throw me with sand then I will throw you back. And the teacher comes around and asks: "Children stop". And one child replies no its not my fault, its GeePMP who started all this by saying Bafana players donot do thier own traning unlike the Boks and Proteas who are so proffessional they do not even go out partying and socializing. They train very hard, very very hard. Rudebox, why you so nasty
@lolo12/9/2009 5:20 PM
Guy.. what crap are you talking. You are 100% write about the difference between body fitness and match fitness, but cricket and rugby players are all subjected to a fitness test prior to test matches. Those rugby players experience far higher physical intensity in 50 minutes than any oscar nominated-fake diving footballer gets in 90min
AL12/9/2009 4:43 PM
@lolo: to run, tackle, scrum, ruck, maul for 50 mins is like running around on a soccer field for 3 hours. @Mhlubuki: what is the point in watching the PSL. The players cant pass, tackle, score or defend. The Bafana team is so useless because the PSL IS SO USELESS!!! Most supporters who enjoy the beautiful game of soccer watch the English or Spanish leagues. Please don`t compare teams ranked No.1(until previously) to a team ranked 88th. On the "fat" issue, I`ve never seen a sportsman who weighs 120-130 kgs who is actually ripped with muscle.
darren @khami12/9/2009 4:24 PM
i agree with you!
khami12/9/2009 2:56 PM
order guys,cant u contribute +ve ,we have great players in south africa and they just lack motivation and pschological sport freedom.we always under rate our self and feel shacky.we must raise our self esteem among our sport people...we can rule the world of sport if we can regain mandela's self motivation.
Joey12/9/2009 2:28 PM
The 2010 cup is in SA. Why are we having camps in Germany and Brazil. This does not make sense.
lolo12/9/2009 2:18 PM
suka Where is the fitness in our rugby players. John Smit, Bakkies, Matfield, Schalk burger, Beast can hardly finish a rugby game. They always get substituted on the 50th minute of every game.
darren @ MHLUBUKI12/9/2009 1:21 PM
i am a hundred percent football fan but i know your wrong about rugby players. they are not fat they are really fit guys and muscular (the amature may be fat). i know a few rugby players (forwards) here in england and they are really fit. the forwards in the old days where fat but now they are just bigger backs. remember you do dont get power from fat but from muscle. all pro's have to be fit. i think psl players are really fit but not as fit as players in the uk. in the uk the league is so difficult that the players conditioning has to be super human. they train non stop. i have watched fulham and other london clubs train and i have watched psl teams train and there is a difference.
GeePMB12/9/2009 12:27 PM
@ lolo and clearly you know nothing about rugby so don't don't comment thereon. @ MHLUBUKI I do watch my local PSL team when they are in town. Their football fitness is NOT at the level required for the rigours of the world cup.
lolo12/9/2009 12:09 PM
There seems to be some confusion among some of you. The fitness that this guy is talking about has to do with match fitness. In soccer you can run alone or hit the gym as much as you like, but if you dont play regularly at your club you will never cut it. KG and Benni were getting little game time at their clubs hence they were not at their best for South Africa.
motiki12/9/2009 12:04 PM
Bafana Bafana or any national team is not a place where players will getting fitnes levels to excellent. National teams do not have time to condition players since preparation period is minimum. Therefore players are expected to gel and understand playing patterns quick as possible. Unlike at club level where coach has ample time to prepare the team for matches. The national team selectors should try their best in selecting fit and excelling players as per selecting criteria. Let us not select based on agents influences. i mean if Teko Modise/Simphiwe Tshabalala is out of form or unfit, let him not be included in our national team.
lolo12/9/2009 11:59 AM
He is definately a lost idiot, who does not even have an idea of the rugby and the cricket he is talking about. Judging by the fitness levels of Kallis and Smith who constantly need runners once the burgers and the beers catch up with them. Mind you the English are currently giving them a hiding. Dont even tell me about the springboks who just got beaten by club sides in Europe. Let alone France and Ireland. Italy does not count. they are everybody cup of coffee. Take that for fitness.
MHLUBUKI12/9/2009 11:55 AM
@jeremy,Agreed-Why are you people insisting that players are not fit? You must be rugby supporters as well and confuse fit with fat,those two words in rugby are just used interchangeably coz you must be fat to push the scrum. Do you people watch PSL matches? Well some of us do and i sometimes watch Ajax train and play,the guys are fit. Watch Chiefs, Arrows,Supersport, Ajax and tell me who's unfit there. I met Graeme Smith at the gym in Greenpoint some months ago and no wonder he gets cramps all the time during matches.The cricket and rugby guys are unfit and to compare them to soccer is a joke.
lolo12/9/2009 11:45 AM
He is definately a lost idiot, who does not even have an idea of the rugby and the cricket he is talking about. Judging by the fitness levels of Kallis and Smith who constantly need runners once the burgers and the beers catch up with them. Mind you the English are currently giving them a hiding. Dont even tell me about the springboks who just got beaten by club sides in Europe. Let alone France and Ireland. Italy does not count. they are everybody cup of coffee. Take that for fitness.
pule12/9/2009 11:45 AM
I think if Carlo and SAFA can try their best to organise a friendly games with the previous FIFA 11 for our boys to get a good exposure.
GeePMB12/9/2009 11:43 AM
@12/9/2009 11:16 AM. I do actually know what I am talking about. Having coached sport at provincial level, I know what I expected from my players in terms of fitness. The simple fact is that in general, our Bafana players are NOT fit. Players like Dikgacoi and Pienaar play in a league where fitness is expected and is expected to be kept up over and above what is done on the training field. They are the exception to the rule at Bafana. Benni McCarthy certainly isn't the fittest player on the park even though he plays at Blackburn! My point being that professional sportsmen must keep to their own fitness regime over and above that which they do on the training ground. And yes, I know where Fulham is and that they are 8th on the Premier League log with 22 points from 15 games. Don't be so sensitive when someone criticises Bafana Bafana. I want them to do well in the SWC even though the odds are against them.
jeremy12/9/2009 11:30 AM
I agree with GeePMB. Why are our players not fit? Surely any professional sportsperson should be constantly working on their personal fitness whether or not they're playing regularly? Presumably those playing for Bafana Bafana have been chosen for their ball and team skills. Personal fitness should be a given for any of them who want to impress the coach with their commitment to the team....
ba12/9/2009 11:28 AM
Bafana Bafana now is the lost case , ... we been preaching this since Santana
Agreed12/9/2009 11:28 AM
GeePMB- I totally agree with your comment. The coach is there to put a program together- its the players responsibility to get fit and train hard and most importantly to DELIVER on the field. I think that is where Bafana go wrong. While the coach may get fired as a result of loosing games in the end the players loose credit as well as loosing out on potential contracts with clubs that may see them during games. The "tail cannot wag the dog" Bafana will not make it into the second round in the tourament next year. I for one cannot support a bunch of unprofessional players who like to think they are a Team.....
@GeePMB12/9/2009 11:16 AM
Another lost idiot commenting on a wrong section. Stick to what you know i.e Rugby and cricket. Dude prove what you are saying. Prove that Bafana players spend time doing nothing while Rugby and crickey players are working out. Or do you know what you are talking about? This is a Fulham player here. Do you get it? Why would Fulham sign a lazy player? Do you even know who Fulham are?
GeePMB12/9/2009 10:52 AM
Um... hello... it is NOT the coaches job to get the team fit, it is the players job to ensure he is fit at all times, The coaches job is to ensure the team has the right players and tactics to play the game. The coach should be testing bthe fitness of the players on a weekly basis and if the fall short of the required levels, they should be bollocked for not doing enough when they are off the training fields. Wasting precious time at a training session having players running and exercising is counter-productive. The rugby and cricket players spend time in the gyms, run and generally keep at peak fitness. Maybe the footballers are spending too much time on the sicial scene and drinking ree champagne and eating free canapes, That is why they are not fit enough!!
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