Tournament News

Mokoena: Group A is tough

2009-12-08 14:00
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Aaron Mokoena (File)
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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena admits they have been handed a tough draw in the World Cup and that the opening game against Mexico will be crucial.

The hosts have been pitted against France, Uruguay and Mexico in Group A with South African tackling the Mexicans in the opening game of the tournament.

Portsmouth midfielder Mokoena is confident with the right preparation South Africa can progress from the group stages.

"I can say it is a tough one [Group A], but it is all about preparation once we have a good preparation we can go out there and win some games," Mokoena told Sky Sports News.

"This game against Mexico is very, very crucial and it is going to be the first game for the tournament so it is going to be very important to go out there and beat Mexico."

Mokoena admits anticipation is growing in his homeland following last Friday's draw

"This is it - the World Cup is in South Africa now," added Mokoena.

"There was a lot of excitement before the draw, but after the draw it was like a mother about to give birth.

"It is about time to kick off now."

 

Your Comments

Mash12/13/2009 7:20 PM
i am positive but this aarone sucks as leader
Tumi Bopape12/9/2009 4:19 PM
How do you as a Captain expect to motivate your team mates if you are afraid of the teams in your group? what happened to good Leaders being diplomatic? This shows a great deal of uncertainty from someone who's supposed to be a Leader. I'm afraid you are not a good Leader Mbazo.
Sefualro12/9/2009 2:46 PM
The guy must learn to inspire instead of complaining.Where is the leader in him?I agree with those who want Steven to lead the team,he is a fighjter and not an unispiring loser like Aron.
petro12/9/2009 1:52 PM
@ Aaron, it has been tough having you as a captain........and Im still asking myself what have you done to deserve that armband
khotsi a muofhe12/9/2009 1:20 PM
dont worry mbazo cause you wont make it to the final bafana squad for 2010..............nndaa
lolo12/9/2009 12:15 PM
We have so many talented centre backs in the country than Mbazo. When one thinks of Sangweni, O.J, Xulu, Mngomeni, Thwala. I just wish our coach could be brave enough to drop this guy. He does not inspire any confidence. He always makes the mistakes that costs us games.
Tebzano12/9/2009 10:13 AM
Aaron is the wrost captain in bafana's history. Always negative or still learning, with nearly 100 caps. You are going to win all the freaking games and that's that. Did he not hear what John Smit said “I see we will have enough practice before the Semi-finals and finals". Now that is what leadership is about. Pereira must make Steven Pienaar the captain and stop sucking up to this guy. Jere man.
Confidance man12/9/2009 9:04 AM
That is an easy Group man after our Conf Cup matches against Brasil/Spain we should be thinking about winning the world cup man.
Louis12/9/2009 5:50 AM
What was he expecting! that's world cup, all teams are tough! maybe he should've told us, what was not going to be a tough group for Bafana! with England, Brazil, Spain, or with Argentina, Netherlands,Italy or with Cameroon, New Zealand,Portugal,Slovakia!! funny enough, Ivory Coast is in a group of death and they love it! they say, in order to go far in the world cup,you need to play big nations.
eSense12/9/2009 12:23 AM
Mbazo spent more time at Portmouth warming the bench...did not even feature in recent games....how can that idiot than lead by example?... Clear case of the blind leading the blind....but that tradition for you for Bafoon Bafoon.......kill the Bafoon...than you have the strength of one......its tradition!
Moses Gama12/8/2009 6:45 PM
Lets support our team stop this name calling that we are doing to Aaron I do not understand why we are bringing down our own players and yet expect them to perfom to the best of their abilities, he is just expressing his opinion I don't see anything wrong with that.
Kube$12/8/2009 6:11 PM
@ Even Tough: I agree mate, Aaron should not be in the team let alone captain. Steven Pienaar should captain this team , we need a gentleman like John Smit, Steven has strong character and is skillful. Aaron is an absolute shocker of a defender and an even worse leader.
Even Tough!12/8/2009 5:00 PM
The only thing that is tough is you, captain. What are you still doing in the team. Nx!
Thabo12/8/2009 4:54 PM
Aaron Mokoena has admitted defeat long before the game started. I don't blame him. Bafana x 2 are just a bunch of unpatriotic and ill-disciplined losers. My prediction in the Group A Bafana games is as follows: - Mexico 2: Bafana 0 - Uraguay 0: Bafana 0 - France 3: Bafana 0 Then its good bye Soccer World Cup!!
Tito12/8/2009 4:38 PM
You dont say genius?!?!? Weak link we stand a good chance if you not in the squad. Hope you bench the whole season at useless portsmouth.
Luke Righte 12/8/2009 3:50 PM
This is not a nice World Cup. They could have drawn us against Lesotho and Swaziland and Transkei. This is heavy, I mean the boys was send off to go and see the psychoterapist and they havent even started. How do you get your head around a soccer ball. Every soccer player needs his own coach/ couch. Damn its tough in a new stadium. Truancy among players will increase. Look out substance abuse will escalate.
Shaun12/8/2009 3:24 PM
This is a soccer world cup. If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. If South Africa were expecting special favours in the group stages then they might as well not even play in the world cup. The tougher the group, the better!
@Twins12/8/2009 3:13 PM
Both of you need to learn a bit more about football. Bafana Bafana, as hosts, are seeded and couldn't have been drawn against any of the other top WC seeded sides - Spain, Brazil, England... The fact that we ended up with 2 former WC winners AND Mexico is mighty tough!!
SJ12/8/2009 2:41 PM
Could these Mbaso idiot stop talking.He is a loser,just look at pourtsmoth.The is no positivnes in his talking. He must ve expected to apply against any team.Now he complains abut a tough group
Lebo12/8/2009 2:40 PM
We might stand a better chance of drawing or winning against Mexico if our 'beloved' captain were to be benched for that game. Please Mr Parreira... don't give Mokoena the armband, most of the crucial mistakes made by Bafana lie squarely on HIS shoulders. Please save us the disgrace... our captain is not a footballer!
O12/8/2009 2:36 PM
They always seperate groups in such a way that best teams are not all in one team dummy so there is no way there would have such combinations
alois12/8/2009 2:36 PM
If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. In't it true that your dream is to win the world cup.
Twins12/8/2009 2:17 PM
Even Madagascar was going to be tough for u. What if it was Spain, Brazil and England in the same group as u...???????????
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