Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Out of sorts Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana is beginning to sound like a stuck record.
After losing 0-1 to Guinea in an international friendly in Atteridgeville on Tuesday night, the Brazilian was once more on cloud nine that Bafana Bafana played well.
It came hardly a week after the team failed to qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals by losing 0-1 to Nigeria in Port Elizabeth.
The Brazilian surprised all and sundry by saying he was happy with Bafana Bafana, which has angered many South Africans.
Santana, speaking through a translator, exposed himself to members of the Fourth Estate after the Guinea game by saying "we played nice football. The team is playing very well".
Scribes then burst into laughter, prompting one to ask Santana to explain his "trial and error" philosophy, which the players clearly did not understand.
"My philosophy is a simple one - to play soccer and know how to pass the ball, change direction, cross the ball and to finish (score).
"Our mistake is finishing [failure to score] we have to start scoring, which is a cause for concern. We need to find a solution.
"If you want to see football where the players will just kick the ball [straight] to the goalkeeper, sorry I won't do it that way.
"I hope to get it right. I am building a competitive squad to play at the 2010 World Cup. I am still looking for players.
"The rebuilding of Bafana started two years ago and I am continuing with that and will build a side to compete at the 2010 World Cup finals."
Also present at the briefing was stand-in captain Sibusiso Zuma, who said: "I am not going to say we played well or it was a good match.
"But we tried our best."
The game was played before less than 2 000 people, many of whom won complimentary tickets in the media.
Zuma said the players were worried about the dwindling support for Bafana Bafana, urging South Africans not to throw in the towel yet.
"As players we were talking about it at 5pm, saying maybe the fans were still coming. We have talent in South Africa. Come 2010, the team is going to be ready.
This is not good enough, Mr Coach
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Ramatsiyi Moholoa
Out of sorts Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana is beginning to sound like a stuck record.
After losing 0-1 to Guinea in an international friendly in Atteridgeville on Tuesday night, the Brazilian was once more on cloud nine that Bafana Bafana played well.
It came hardly a week after the team failed to qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finals by losing 0-1 to Nigeria in Port Elizabeth.
The Brazilian surprised all and sundry by saying he was happy with Bafana Bafana, which has angered many South Africans.
Santana, speaking through a translator, exposed himself to members of the Fourth Estate after the Guinea game by saying "we played nice football. The team is playing very well".
Scribes then burst into laughter, prompting one to ask Santana to explain his "trial and error" philosophy, which the players clearly did not understand.
"My philosophy is a simple one - to play soccer and know how to pass the ball, change direction, cross the ball and to finish (score).
"Our mistake is finishing [failure to score] we have to start scoring, which is a cause for concern. We need to find a solution.
"If you want to see football where the players will just kick the ball [straight] to the goalkeeper, sorry I won't do it that way.
"I hope to get it right. I am building a competitive squad to play at the 2010 World Cup. I am still looking for players.
"The rebuilding of Bafana started two years ago and I am continuing with that and will build a side to compete at the 2010 World Cup finals."
Also present at the briefing was stand-in captain Sibusiso Zuma, who said: "I am not going to say we played well or it was a good match.
"But we tried our best."
The game was played before less than 2 000 people, many of whom won complimentary tickets in the media.
Zuma said the players were worried about the dwindling support for Bafana Bafana, urging South Africans not to throw in the towel yet.
"As players we were talking about it at 5pm, saying maybe the fans were still coming. We have talent in South Africa. Come 2010, the team is going to be ready.