ROME was not built in a day! This was the message to South Africans from Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane who insists they are still on track to conquer Africa.
This is despite the team's dismal failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals and their 2-1 defeat to Zimbabwe in Harare on Tuesday night.
"I'm building the team for 2013 (Afcon finals scheduled for South Africa). We will go through turbulence in the process," Mosimane said.
"Unless we need quick results, we have to be patient and allow the building process to be completed. Otherwise I can organise easy opposition.
"I can get 10 easy teams that we will beat left, right and centre but it won't take us anywhere. We will be a laughing stock when we play against some of the giants of football.
"It is for that reason that I have asked Safa to line up games against some of the best teams in the world. In fact, we have two teams that have qualified for the Afcon finals already lined up for us.
"We are going to build a solid team that all South Africans will be proud of," said the Bafana coach. He commended debutants Bradley Grobler and Punch Masenamela.
"It was a good exercise to test the two debutants as well as Oupa Manyisa in the absence of Steven Pienaar, (Siphiwe) Tshabalala, (Katlego) Mphela and many others," he said.
"I'm disappointed with the outcome of the match against Zimbabwe but in terms of performance I was happy. We deserved at least a draw.
"In six weeks' time, we will be playing against India here at home. I will not call up our players who are playing in England for that match.
"I will be checking with youngsters like Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu and others regarding their availability for the match.
"We will be bringing in young players based here at home and I appeal to South Africans to rally behind the team.
"I strongly believe Bafana Bafana have a great future."
Masenamela said: "It's a great honour to have started the match on my debut and I will continue to work hard to earn more call-ups."
Pitso asks for more patience
ROME was not built in a day! This was the message to South Africans from Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane who insists they are still on track to conquer Africa.
This is despite the team's dismal failure to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals and their 2-1 defeat to Zimbabwe in Harare on Tuesday night.
"I'm building the team for 2013 (Afcon finals scheduled for South Africa). We will go through turbulence in the process," Mosimane said.
"Unless we need quick results, we have to be patient and allow the building process to be completed. Otherwise I can organise easy opposition.
"I can get 10 easy teams that we will beat left, right and centre but it won't take us anywhere. We will be a laughing stock when we play against some of the giants of football.
"It is for that reason that I have asked Safa to line up games against some of the best teams in the world. In fact, we have two teams that have qualified for the Afcon finals already lined up for us.
"We are going to build a solid team that all South Africans will be proud of," said the Bafana coach. He commended debutants Bradley Grobler and Punch Masenamela.
"It was a good exercise to test the two debutants as well as Oupa Manyisa in the absence of Steven Pienaar, (Siphiwe) Tshabalala, (Katlego) Mphela and many others," he said.
"I'm disappointed with the outcome of the match against Zimbabwe but in terms of performance I was happy. We deserved at least a draw.
"In six weeks' time, we will be playing against India here at home. I will not call up our players who are playing in England for that match.
"I will be checking with youngsters like Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu and others regarding their availability for the match.
"We will be bringing in young players based here at home and I appeal to South Africans to rally behind the team.
"I strongly believe Bafana Bafana have a great future."
Masenamela said: "It's a great honour to have started the match on my debut and I will continue to work hard to earn more call-ups."
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