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Parreira relieved and elated
25/03/2007 15:36 - (SA)
Ndjamena - World Cup winning coach
Carlos Alberto Parreira says he was both relieved and elated
with a victorious start to his new career in charge of 2010
World Cup hosts South Africa.
Parreira led his team to a 3-0 away win over Chad in their
African Nations Cup qualifier in Ndjamena on Saturday to set
South Africa on their way to qualifying for the 2008 finals in
Ghana.
"It's both a feeling of relief and a feeling of
satisfaction. I'm thrilled. It was important to win the first
game. Now we have to keep this ball rolling," he said.
"This result was very, very important. We needed to get the
three points to make sure we get closer to qualifying for the
African Nations Cup finals.
"The conditions did not help us to play up to our standard.
The heat was unbelievable. It was not fair to both sets of
players and the surface did not help as well. But we did really
well under the circumstances."
Goals from Surprise Moriri, Delron Buckley and Sibusiso Zuma
ensured a winning debut for Parreira in heat of 42 degrees at
kick-off.
South Africa now move to seven points in their qualifying
group, with their two big group rivals Congo and Zambia playing
against each other in Brazzaville on Sunday.
The appointment of the former Brazil coach has added to the
growing sense of anticipation ahead of South Africa's hosting of
the 2010 World Cup finals.
The 64-year-old Parreira, who won the World Cup with Brazil
13 years ago, has been charged with producing a side that will
prove competitive at the 2010 event.
He has told South African officials the national team will
have to play many more matches against higher quality and varied
opposition in the coming months.
South Africa next take on Bolivia in a friendly in
Johannesburg on Wednesday.
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