FORMER Bafana Bafana star striker Phil "Chippa" Masinga is confident Carlos Alberto Parreira will turn Bafana Bafana's fortunes around ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals on home soil.
FORMER Bafana Bafana star striker Phil "Chippa" Masinga is confident Carlos Alberto Parreira will turn Bafana Bafana's fortunes around ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals on home soil.
Masinga also believes Parreira should bring back striker Benni McCarthy.
Parreira, who won the World Cup with his native Brazil in the US in 1994, was re-appointed as Bafana head coach last month after the departure of Joel Santana.
Bafana dropped to 85th in the world rankings last month after losing eight of their last nine matches.
But Masinga said: "There is no need to panic. We have the players to do the job. The World Cup is a tournament and we showed we have good ability by reaching the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, which is also played in a tournament format.
"I do not agree with people who say that as we only managed a win in that tournament against New Zealand, we did not do well. We played some really good soccer in matches against Brazil and Spain. That lifted the whole country and gives me confidence. Bafana will get past the second round at the World Cup.
"Parreira started a plan about three years back with Bafana and now he will continue. What is positive is that the players know where they stand with Parreira, they respect him and he is not likely to make wholesale changes. Making major changes in playing personnel is not the answer and I'm sure Parreira knows that."
But Masinga stressed that Parreira's first job would be to bring back the confidence that was battered during Santana's disastrous 17 months in charge.
"The fact we have two matches this month at home against Japan and Jamaica will help him sort out his players and get us back onto a more positive track."
On McCarthy he said: "We need to use Benni's experience. I accept he is not playing regularly in England for Blackburn Rovers, but he is still a brilliant finisher and could be used to inspire the other players around him."
Masinga also rates Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela highly. - Sapa
masinga backs parreira
FORMER Bafana Bafana star striker Phil "Chippa" Masinga is confident Carlos Alberto Parreira will turn Bafana Bafana's fortunes around ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals on home soil.
FORMER Bafana Bafana star striker Phil "Chippa" Masinga is confident Carlos Alberto Parreira will turn Bafana Bafana's fortunes around ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals on home soil.
Masinga also believes Parreira should bring back striker Benni McCarthy.
Parreira, who won the World Cup with his native Brazil in the US in 1994, was re-appointed as Bafana head coach last month after the departure of Joel Santana.
Bafana dropped to 85th in the world rankings last month after losing eight of their last nine matches.
But Masinga said: "There is no need to panic. We have the players to do the job. The World Cup is a tournament and we showed we have good ability by reaching the semifinals of the Confederations Cup, which is also played in a tournament format.
"I do not agree with people who say that as we only managed a win in that tournament against New Zealand, we did not do well. We played some really good soccer in matches against Brazil and Spain. That lifted the whole country and gives me confidence. Bafana will get past the second round at the World Cup.
"Parreira started a plan about three years back with Bafana and now he will continue. What is positive is that the players know where they stand with Parreira, they respect him and he is not likely to make wholesale changes. Making major changes in playing personnel is not the answer and I'm sure Parreira knows that."
But Masinga stressed that Parreira's first job would be to bring back the confidence that was battered during Santana's disastrous 17 months in charge.
"The fact we have two matches this month at home against Japan and Jamaica will help him sort out his players and get us back onto a more positive track."
On McCarthy he said: "We need to use Benni's experience. I accept he is not playing regularly in England for Blackburn Rovers, but he is still a brilliant finisher and could be used to inspire the other players around him."
Masinga also rates Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela highly. - Sapa