Why Bafana must win

Siphiwe Tshabalala has raised the call for Bafana Bafana to go all out for victory in Niamey this weekend when South Africa take on Niger in a 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier.

Bafana currently sit on top of Group 7 with eight points, two clear of Niger, going into Sunday’s game at the Stade General Seydi Kountche. Victory for South Africa would guarantee them a place at the 2012 finals, provided Sierra Leone fail to beat Egypt in Freetown the previous afternoon.

“It’s very important for us to get maximum points,” said Tshabalala. “It is not going to be easy, it’s going to be tough playing away – the living arrangements, the conditions, the weather, the crowd. But I think we are up for that. We are mentally prepared for everything. The most important thing is to go out there and get maximum points and I believe we can achieve that.”

The Bafana captain was not part of a sparse group of six Bafana players that did some light training in the late afternoon sunshine at Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus yesterday.

Morgan Gould, Eric Matoho, Hlompo Kekana and Thanduyise Khuboni were not in action on the weekend, and were joined by Kaizer Chiefs’ Bernard Parker and new Getafe left-back Tsepo Masilela.

Aside from Parker and Masilela, the rest of the squad who are fit and played on the weekend had a gym session.

“Players won’t have the same programme, or come Friday we’ll have no players with two legs to stand on,” explained team doctor Ephraim Nematswerani yesterday. “Those players who last played on Wednesday are on another programme and won’t be undergoing the same programme today, or for the rest of the week.”

Despite all this, Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane seemed happy to have a full squad turn up for camp, and with the general fitness levels, about which he had expressed concern following the recent friendly against Burkina Faso.

“Obviously the more matches they play, the more fitness they get, so we are winning slowly,” said Mosimane. “It’s (also) a chicken and egg story, because the more you play, the more injuries you can get. But you can’t have your cake and eat it. (But) for sure we are getting there.”

Bafana’s only injury worries concern the Orlando Pirates trio of Moeneeb Josephs, Oupa Manyisa and Tlou Segolela, carrying knocks from Sunday’s MTN8 semi-final draw with Sundowns.

All three went for MRI scans yesterday, but the results had not yet been released by the South African Football Association late last night.

Bafana will train in Phokeng for the rest of the week, before leaving for Niamey on Friday. – Cape Argus