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Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana are not feeling the pressure as the countdown to their opening World Cup Group A clash against Mexico at a sold out Soccer City on Friday ticks away. Kick-off is at 16:00.
It is pay back time for Bafana fans on Friday. So said the country’s leading goal scorer Katlego Mphela, who scored his sixth goal in the last five warm-up matches in the 1-0 win over Denmark at the Super Stadium on Saturday.
A pumped up Mphela said on Monday: “The country has spent billions of rands in securing the World Cup to be played in South Africa. We as players have a debt and are determined to pay it back by beating Mexico and forcing our way into the second round. We also owe it not just to the country but our fans to succeed.”
The Mamelodi Sundowns star added the confidence in the camp has never been higher now that Bafana have gone 12 matches unbeaten.
“We are ready and are going to go for it.” But Mphela is not underestimating the classy Mexicans who showed their potential when they outplayed defending world champions Italy 2-1 last week in a match the Central Americans should have won by five goals.
The match was played in Belgium.
Mphela remarked : “I have watched Mexico’s last three game and they are good.”
But Mphela has a plan up his sleeve:” The Mexicans like to attack and that suits us. That means they leave gaps behind their defence, which I aim to capitalise on. I reckon I have the ability to sneak behind their defence and cause problems.
Mphela who has been playing as a lone striker said he did not mind that role: “As long as I get the ball and have a chance at goal I will score. The last five games have done wonders for my morale and the other players in the side. We are ready for Mexico and they can be sure of one thing they are heading for a tough 90 minutes.”
Bafana goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs said he and the players were living their World Cup dream: “This is the dream we all have had as a country and players to play in the World Cup on home soil. The bonus is we will having 90 000 odd Bafana fans cheering us on.”
The Orlando Pirates keeper said that he was not worried about the competition between himself and Kaizer Chiefs star Itumeleng Khune for the number one jersey against Mexico: “ We are friends and the competition is healthy among the goalkeepers.
"No matter who the coach (Carlos Alberto Parreira) selects the others will be 1 000% behind who starts in goal. We are a team and teamwork and sprit is one of our major strengths."
Moeneeb said there were no nerves or butterflies in the camp with the Mexico showdown just days away: "We are not nervous. This is what we have been waiting for and working so hard towards.
"We are more than ready for this day (against Mexico) and we are going to make the most of it. We are on a rollercoaster and want to enjoy every minute of the ride."
Josephs hit out at certain parts of local media who he said have been negative towards Bafana and the local PSL.
Josephs explained : “We as players have nothing to prove to our critics. We are working hard to not just make the second round but we aim to go further.
"There will be no complacency. How can there be any complacency when we play in the biggest soccer event in the world at home?
"There is tremendous expectation from the players and we are not going to relax now or at any stage of the World Cup. We have worked too hard to get to this stage. We are going to make the country proud.”
