adminJOHANNESBURG. — South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan believes Bafana Bafana’s superior form on foreign soil will elevate them to a successful African Cup of Nations campaign.
“This team has dismissed the idea that you can’t play to win when playing away from home,” Jordaan said at the team’s send-off in Johannesburg yesterday.
“So when you go there to play, continue to show no fear. The team has made it this far and there is no reason it can’t go further.”
Bafana have shown outstanding form since coach Shakes Mashaba took charge in August, with an undefeated record of five wins and three draws.
It was their performances away from home though which had particularly been impressive. During their Afcon qualifying campaign, Bafana beat Sudan and Congo-Brazzaville in their respective countries.
The Safa boss said he had “all the confidence in the world” that the team would represent South Africa well.
“We have all the faith in the team that they will make us proud. The belief and pride we once had in the team has been restored.” Jordaan said the team was not burdened with unrealistic expectations.
“We are not saying that you must go there and we want you to win the tournament. What is expected is for the team to go out there and show courage.”
Bafana Bafana were jetting off to Gabon for a pre-tournament camp and were also scheduled to play a warm-up match against Cameroon on Saturday in Libreville, before the Nations Cup kicks off on January 17.
They take on Algeria in their first Afcon match at the Estadio de Mongomo on January 19. Coach Mashaba’s men were drawn in group C as well against Ghana and Senegal in what was considered one of the toughest groups in the tournament. Mashaba thanked Jordaan for the support he had received in the five months since his appointment as coach.
“Mr President, we are where we are because of the confidence you have shown in us,” Mashaba said.
“The players in this team are willing to fight for the honour of the country, and much of it is as a result of your backing.”
The 23-man Bafana squad headed into East Africa confident and without fear of other nations after having held their own in the last few months, he said.
Meanwhile, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula said the nation had been deprived of glory for long enough and implored Bafana Bafana to make South Africa proud at the NationsCup in Equatorial Guinea.
Speaking at the same send-off ceremony, Mbalula said the current team had shown they had the potential to become great.
“This is a special moment for the country . . . and it is important that you, the players, should show a fighting spirit,” he said.
“You have restored the pride, the glory and belief of a nation. You must go there and compete for your country. This is what we have always wanted. I think you have come of age now.”
Bafana Bafana were jetting off to Gabon for a pre-tournament camp and were also scheduled to play a warm-up match against Cameroon on Saturday in Libreville, before Afcon kicked off on January 17.
Mbalula, who a year ago called the Bafana team a “bunch of losers” after they were dumped out of the 2014 African Nations Championship, said a good team performance meant there was less to talk about off the field.
“We have to thank you when you are doing well because we talk a lot when things are not going well,” he said.
“Well done to the coaching staff for guiding these young boys to the Africa Cup of Nations. I want to salute the players for taking us to this point.”
Bafana take on Algeria in their first Afcon match at the Estadio de Mongomo on January 19.
Coach Mashaba’s men were drawn in group C with Ghana and Senegal completing what is considered one of the toughest groups in the tournament.
Bafana’s unbeaten record since Mashaba took charge in August stands at five wins and three draws.— Supersport.
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