Doctor Khumalo is not losing any sleep over Bafana Bafana's date with Brazil at FNB Stadium next month.
He doesn't think the emotional scars of the national team's humiliating participation in the African Nations Championship (Chan) will be on the players' minds.
The Bafana legend says he expects coach Gordon Igesund's charges to compete against the Seleção, even though the South Americans will visit South Africa just weeks after the embarrassing Chan debacle.
"We may be down after our disastrous Chan tournament, but I don't think the morale is low," says the former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana midfielder.
"Guys always want to measure their game against the Brazilian superstars. This is one game that will raise our spirits. I would have loved to see the coach giving two or three promising youngsters a run in this game."
It remains to be seen if Bafana will redeem themselves after crashing out in the opening round of Chan following a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria in Cape Town last month.
Former Bafana striker Phil Masinga says the South African players have a tendency to put up a fight against the best teams in the world when few expect them to.
"Look at the way we played against Brazil last time, our guys did not freeze as expected," says Masinga, referring to Bafana's 1-0 defeat to Brazil in São Paulo in 2012.
"Critics never gave us a chance when we played against. Spain in November. There were talks that we were going to get a massacring of biblical proportions. But we proved them wrong."
Bafana might have lost all of their previous meetings against Brazil, but they never embarrassed themselves.
The 1-0 win over Spain at FNB Stadium last year might serve as motivation and Igesund has recalled the players who were part of that victory.
The return of Ajax Amsterdam star Thulani Serero will give Igesund more options upfront. It will be interesting to see how he plays against the star-studded South Americans.
Orlando Pirates caretaker coach and former Bafana hard man Eric Tinkler says Bafana seem to take things seriously against more illustrious opposition.
"We need to treat all games the same. Our game against Brazil presents a golden opportunity for our players to gain more experience."
Bafana may be down, but they are not out, says Doctor
Doctor Khumalo is not losing any sleep over Bafana Bafana's date with Brazil at FNB Stadium next month.
He doesn't think the emotional scars of the national team's humiliating participation in the African Nations Championship (Chan) will be on the players' minds.
The Bafana legend says he expects coach Gordon Igesund's charges to compete against the Seleção, even though the South Americans will visit South Africa just weeks after the embarrassing Chan debacle.
"We may be down after our disastrous Chan tournament, but I don't think the morale is low," says the former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana midfielder.
"Guys always want to measure their game against the Brazilian superstars. This is one game that will raise our spirits. I would have loved to see the coach giving two or three promising youngsters a run in this game."
It remains to be seen if Bafana will redeem themselves after crashing out in the opening round of Chan following a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria in Cape Town last month.
Former Bafana striker Phil Masinga says the South African players have a tendency to put up a fight against the best teams in the world when few expect them to.
"Look at the way we played against Brazil last time, our guys did not freeze as expected," says Masinga, referring to Bafana's 1-0 defeat to Brazil in São Paulo in 2012.
"Critics never gave us a chance when we played against. Spain in November. There were talks that we were going to get a massacring of biblical proportions. But we proved them wrong."
Bafana might have lost all of their previous meetings against Brazil, but they never embarrassed themselves.
The 1-0 win over Spain at FNB Stadium last year might serve as motivation and Igesund has recalled the players who were part of that victory.
The return of Ajax Amsterdam star Thulani Serero will give Igesund more options upfront. It will be interesting to see how he plays against the star-studded South Americans.
Orlando Pirates caretaker coach and former Bafana hard man Eric Tinkler says Bafana seem to take things seriously against more illustrious opposition.
"We need to treat all games the same. Our game against Brazil presents a golden opportunity for our players to gain more experience."
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