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Johannesburg - Everton Player-of-the-Season Steven Pienaar is set to take centre stage at last for Bafana Bafana when they host Colombia in an international friendly at the new Soccer City on Thursday night in another vital step towards next month’s Soccer World Cup finals.
Kick-off is at 08:35.
Pienaar, addressing the media for the first time since joining the squad last week, said he was confident that Bafana would get further than the second round of the World Cup.
"We are good enough to get past the first phase and further," the midfielder said.
"I have been really impressed by the way the squad has developed under the coach (Carlos Alberto Parreria). I believe we can do well.
"The spirit has never been better, the players believe in themselves and we are good to go."
SA Football Association chief executive Leslie Sedibe announced that 55 000 tickets had been sold by Wednesday morning and he was expecting a sell out crowd for South Africa's first appearance at the new multi billion rand stadium.
Pienaar said the 34th world ranked Colombians, who watched Bafana battle to a well deserved 1-1 draw against Bulgaria at a packed Orlando Stadium on Monday night, would pose an even bigger test for Bafana.
And with two weeks before the global showpiece kicks off on June 11 at Soccer City, where Bafana play Mexico in the opening Group A match, Pienaar said every warm-up game was crucial.
"It's great that we get to play a top class side like Colombia because they play a similar style to Mexico and this game will give us a feel for what we can expect on June 11."
Pienaar, who was on the wanted list for top European clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur and big spending Manchester City, said he does not expect to walk into the starting line-up against Colombia.
"I have not been told by the coach if I am playing or not," said the modest Everton star.
"Like all the other players I will have to fight for my place. I am here to help my country do well in the World Cup as part of the squad."
Pienaar denied that he was the missing link in the side, and said it was vital for every team member to play their part.
"I am one player in a team. Soccer relies on 11 players not one," he said.
"I am simply happy to be home and feel a great honour being part of Bafana."
Pienaar also said he was happy to play anywhere in the midfield, and that he had no target of goals for the tournament.
"I will play where the coach wants me to," he said, "and my goal is to help Bafana. If I score one or two goals I will be happy, but the target is getting Bafana as far as possible in the tournament."
Parreira has said he will use the match against Colombia to integrate his overseas based players, but the Brazilian born coach admitted he had a headache.
"It is a nice headache of deciding who to select after the team, especially those in the first half (locally based players), played so well against Bulgaria," Parreira said.
But the likes of Pienaar and the other European based players - skipper Aaron Mokoena, fullbacks Tsepo Masilela and Bryce Moon, midfielders Macbeth Sibaya and Kagisho Dikgacoi, and striker Benni McCarthy - need to get some serious game time against Colombia.
Pienaar said he believed McCarthy was in shape to shine at the global shpiece.
"I played with him in a friendly against Orlando Pirates on Tuesday and he looked sharp," Pienaar said.
Parreira’s three camps with his players based in South Africa - in Durban, Brazil and Germany - have borne fruit to the extent that, apart from Pienaar and Mokoena, none of the European based players are guaranteed a start against Colombia.
The Colombians, after being guests at the Orlando Stadium on Monday night, will have an idea as to what they can expect from the fans after 38 000 supporters blasted their vuvuzelas and helped Bafana to a credible draw against Bulgaria.
"The fans were amazing on Monday night," Sedibe said. "They have come to the party big time and we want to thank them. They will be our 12th man again against Colombia."
