Play to strengths, Coetzee tells Bafana

Bafana Bafana defender Rivaldo Coetzee believes the team has enough quality to win the Cosafa Cup.

Coetzee is hopeful that the boys will put on a sterling performance at the regional tournament under way in Windhoek, Namibia.

Bafana only get started this weekend with a quarterfinal against the Group B winners.

"The guys we have play in the top flight and they know what's at stake here.

"I think we have a very good chance of winning the tournament. I'm positive that we will go there and make the nation proud," Coetzee said.

The team leaves for Namibia today to await the winners of Group B, which is made up of Angola, Lesotho, Mauritius and Malawi.

Saturday's quarterfinal clash takes place at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

Despite his optimism Coetzee has cautioned that Bafana will do well if they play to their strengths, considering South African players aren't the biggest physically.

"Physically they will be bigger than us so I think we must play to our strengths, which is keeping the ball moving. We are quicker than them, so if we don't get stuck on the ball I don't think we will have any problems coming up against them."

Bafana, whose players are accustomed to playing on grass, will have to contend with an artificial pitch in Namibia.

Coetzee is confident their training on an artificial surface at the Nike Football Centre ground in Soweto could stand them in good stead.

"It can be difficult, but it depends on the weather, though. If it is hot, you will get blisters and you will be uncomfortable.

"It is cold now and the pitch will be wet. I think South African players like that and that will give us a chance," he added.