SA train behind closed doors

Johannesburg - South Africa trained behind closed doors on Sunday amid claims of divisions in the camp while a former star slammed the World Cup hosts' tactics.

Bafana Bafana need a convincing victory over troubled France in Bloemfontein on Tuesday and a win for Uruguay or Mexico in Rustenburg at the same time to have any chance of dodging the first-round guillotine.

But reports of cliques developing in the 23-man squad will worry supporters still rattled by a 3-0 midweek drubbing from Uruguay following a 1-1 draw with Mexico in the opening match of the month-long tournament.

France have been creating headlines for all the wrong reasons with a feeble showing when losing 2-0 to Mexico followed by the expulsion of striker Nicolas Anelka for a foul-mouthed tirade against coach Raymond Domenech.

Players from the eastern kwaZulu-Natal province are allegedly unhappy with what they consider to be underperforming 'superstars' from Johannesburg and Pretoria clubs.

It is significant that the 'unhappy campers' include defender Siyabonga Sangweni, midfielders Macbeth Sibaya and Thanduyise Khuboni and striker Siyabonga Nomvete.

None has been given a minute on the field in either Group A game and Sibaya went against a trend of politically correct comments at Bafana news conferences after the Uruguay humiliation.

"I believe we could have done better when it comes to fighting spirit. There are times when you have to make sacrifices, get stuck in and do some dirty work," said the Russia-based midfield 'enforcer'.

"Uruguay are a very physical team who can be dirty and provoke opponents and we need footballers with more character. It will be like climbing Mount Everest against France, but we must do whatever is possible."

Among the targets of the disgruntled players is midfielder Teko Modise, whose continued presence in the starting line-up is a mystery to all bar Brazilian grandfather Parreira.

Operating on the right side of a five-man midfield, Modise does not attack or defend with any purpose and the slightly built footballer was often brushed aside by physically superior Uruguayans.

Neil Tovey, captain of the 1996 African Nations Cup-winning team, believes Parreira must abandon his cloak of caution and play two strikers against the French at Vodacom Park.

Birmingham City target Katlego Mphela has been used as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 system and was often surrounded by five South Americans when he gained possession in Pretoria last Wednesday.

"I do not think we used the right formation against Uruguay. We should have deployed two strikers up front because we did not have the right midfielders to go with just one," said South African Premiership coach Tovey.

He was also critical of Steven Pienaar being used in a central midfield role with his back to goal and would prefer to see him attacking from the wings, like he does for Everton.

"I am very disappointed with the efforts of Bafana so far. In the game against Mexico we played well in the second half and that was it. We have performed satisfactorily in one half of one game."