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."