Tournament News

'Let's get behind Bafana'

2010-03-12 07:35
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Shaun Bartlett (Gallo)
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Johannesburg - South Africa can find success at the FIFA Soccer World Cup if the host nation gets behind the team, according to former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett.

Bartlett believes South Africans will need to have the same optimism they did before the nation's victories at the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1996 Africa Cup of Nations if they hope for decent results from the Bafana players in three months time.

And after they reached the semi-finals of last year's Confederations Cup, South Africa's all-time No 2 goal scorer is confident that the team can spring a surprise.

"I think we did really well at the Confederations Cup,"

Bartlett, who scored 28 goals in 74 games for Bafana, said at a SuperSport launch at Soccer City on Thursday.

"This negative vibe around South Africa's chances needs to stop, and as South Africans it starts with us. In 1995 and 1996 the players had the support of the entire nation, and they will need that if they are to do well again."

Bartlett, playing for Kaizer Chiefs at the time, scored the last goal at the FNB Stadium before it was torn down and revamped as Soccer City. The stadium, still under construction, will host the opening match of the World Cup, between South Africa and Mexico on June 11, as well as the final a month later. 

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