Bafana Bafana have good enough players to reach a World Cup‚ but need to ensure they do not underestimate any of their opposition in the qualifiers for Russia 2018‚ said national team goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
The Kaizer Chiefs keeper said Bafana also need to not let themselves become distracted by tough conditions if they are to progress through a difficult‚ but quite evenly matched Group D that also includes Burkina Faso‚ Senegal and Cape Verde Islands.
Khune was speaking from experience ahead of South Africa’s opening match against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou on Saturday (8pm SA time).
Bafana’s failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations was largely due to their results in their first two matches – a 0-0 home draw against Gambia and 3-1 away defeat to Mauritania.
South Africa underestimated both sides and struggled to adapt to an artificial surface and the heat in Nouakchott against Mauritania.
“We’ve got great players. The South African league is highly rated. And players like those from Orlando Pirates [reaching the 2013 Champions League and 2015 Confederation Cup finals] and Mamelodi Sundowns [who are in this year’s Champions League final] have been travelling the continent‚ doing well there‚” Khune said.
“So we definitely have to come together‚ and combine that experience that we’ve gathered out there.
“And try to explain to the players who haven’t travelled the continent that it’s very important that we don’t get distracted by the conditions that we encounter.
“It’s very important that we don’t underestimate anyone. I think in the Afcon qualifiers we underestimated a team like Mauritania‚ who were the side who took four points from us.
“Going into these matches we go to perform‚ we go to get results. Regardless of what happens on the day‚ even if the conditions don’t suit us‚ we just have to go and do well for the country.”
Bafana might have failed to reach Afcon 2017‚ finishing third in their group to Cameroon and Mauritania‚ but the manner in which they reached the 2015 Nations Cup at the expense of champions Nigeria suggests if SA get their ducks in a row they have a chance for Russia 2018.
The South Africans are likely to face tough conditions in Burkina Faso this weekend. The west African country is on the edge of the Sahara desert and bound to be hot‚ and also one of the poorest nations in the world.
TMG Digital/TMG Sport
Bafana have good players but need to be wary of conditions - Khune
Bafana Bafana have good enough players to reach a World Cup‚ but need to ensure they do not underestimate any of their opposition in the qualifiers for Russia 2018‚ said national team goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
The Kaizer Chiefs keeper said Bafana also need to not let themselves become distracted by tough conditions if they are to progress through a difficult‚ but quite evenly matched Group D that also includes Burkina Faso‚ Senegal and Cape Verde Islands.
Khune was speaking from experience ahead of South Africa’s opening match against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou on Saturday (8pm SA time).
Bafana’s failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations was largely due to their results in their first two matches – a 0-0 home draw against Gambia and 3-1 away defeat to Mauritania.
South Africa underestimated both sides and struggled to adapt to an artificial surface and the heat in Nouakchott against Mauritania.
“We’ve got great players. The South African league is highly rated. And players like those from Orlando Pirates [reaching the 2013 Champions League and 2015 Confederation Cup finals] and Mamelodi Sundowns [who are in this year’s Champions League final] have been travelling the continent‚ doing well there‚” Khune said.
“So we definitely have to come together‚ and combine that experience that we’ve gathered out there.
“And try to explain to the players who haven’t travelled the continent that it’s very important that we don’t get distracted by the conditions that we encounter.
“It’s very important that we don’t underestimate anyone. I think in the Afcon qualifiers we underestimated a team like Mauritania‚ who were the side who took four points from us.
“Going into these matches we go to perform‚ we go to get results. Regardless of what happens on the day‚ even if the conditions don’t suit us‚ we just have to go and do well for the country.”
Bafana might have failed to reach Afcon 2017‚ finishing third in their group to Cameroon and Mauritania‚ but the manner in which they reached the 2015 Nations Cup at the expense of champions Nigeria suggests if SA get their ducks in a row they have a chance for Russia 2018.
The South Africans are likely to face tough conditions in Burkina Faso this weekend. The west African country is on the edge of the Sahara desert and bound to be hot‚ and also one of the poorest nations in the world.
TMG Digital/TMG Sport