Share

Igesund calls for patience

Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has urged South African fans not to read too much into their upcoming results against Norway and Algeria.

According to the supersport.com website, the national team take on Norway in Cape Town on Tuesday and then meet Algeria in Johannesburg on January 12, their final warm-up matches before the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

It presents too tough challenges for Bafana and, perhaps mindful of the negative mindset among many fans to the national team, Igesund says two defeats should not cause alarm.

“Results are always important because they breed confidence, but I might not play our strongest team in either game as we are still looking at what combinations will work best for us,” Igesund says. “So it is not going to be a train-smash if we draw or lose, it will not be the end of the world. To me, the only result that really matters is the one on the 19th against Cape Verde.”

Igesund reiterates that there is likely to be plenty of experimentation in his starting line-ups for the two matches.

“I need to know my players inside out, so that when I need someone to change a game situation for me, I know who to call on. I need to know everything about my squad before the Nations Cup so that when we are in the heat of battle, we can make the right decisions.

“These two games will give me the opportunity to do that.”

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
loading... Live
Arsenal 4
Chelsea 0
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1843 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1810 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 470 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 261 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE