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Time to shine says Parreira
24/03/2008 21:00 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A time to produce results. This was the emphatic declaration of Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira on the eve of Wednesday night's tricky encounter against the world's 26th-ranked Paraguay at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium.
While the urbane Brazilian-born coach said at a media conference in Pretoria that he was not dissatisfied with the progress made by Bafana in many areas during the 14-month period since his arrival in South Africa, it was now time "to transform these advances into tangible results on the pitch and beef up our unacceptable 71st Fifa ranking."
"I don't think anyone can rightly dispute the fact that we have unearthed a whole host of new talents with the potential to make their mark during the 2010 World Cup," said the coach who helped guide Brazil to the global title in 1994, "or that the soccer we are now employing is of a more advanced, unified pattern, with the players more resolute and disciplined at the same time.
"Now we must take the process a step further after progressing significantly following the experience gained in playing teams like Italy, Scotland, Uruguay, as well as in the African Nations Cup Finals," added Parreira.
The best combination
At the same time, the Bafana coach was quick to emphasise the formidable nature of the opposition provided by Paraguay, who currently head the South American World Cup qualifying league format ahead of traditional giants Brazil and Argentina - "and effectively combine South American skill and European discipline and resilience in their make-up."
Parreira said the 22-man squad he had chosen for the Paraguay game was "the most suitable we could muster for the occasion.
"But whether it is the strongest Bafana squad at this moment," said Parreira, "I am really not sure. We have gone through the process of examining as much talent as we can in order to achieve the ultimate objective of finding the best combination for the 2010 World Cup.
"In a year's time," added the Bafana coach, "I will be in a better position to say with confidence what line-up is the best we have at our disposal."
One position in which Parreira will not have his current first-choice available is in mid-field where Everton's Steven Pienaar has withdrawn from the squad because of illness, with Mamelodi Sundowns' Lerato Chabangu introduced as a replacement.
As for the critical comments and suggestions on the way forward for Bafana that have been made by sundry politicians, including Minister of Sport Makhenkesi Stofile, a straight-talking Parreira has bluntly declared that he does not meddle in political matters - "and those who know nothing about soccer should not dabble in football matters either."
Impossible suggestion
Asked how angry he was over the critical comments of both the "political coaches" and several of the PSL coaches, including the bizarre, impractical, indeed impossible suggestion by Minister Stofile that the government should "nationalise" a squad of South Africa's top players for a period of two years, Parreira said he was "not angry at all."
"I have had my say as to what I think on the subject," he added, "and now it is time to move on - and look ahead towards what needs to be done for 2010."
And, as evidence of improvements in certain areas, the entire 22-man Bafana squad for Wednesday was ensconced in their Pretoria camp on Monday - with even the enigmatic Benni McCarthy making an appearance, albeit his flight from London being delayed several hours.
McCarthy's team-mate at Blackburn Rovers and Bafana captain, Aaron Mokoena, said he was looking forward to crossing swords with another of Blackburn's players, dynamic striker Roque Santa Cruz, in Wednesday's game against Paraguay.
"He is a very good, formidable professional," said Mokoena who will probably be designated the task of marking the Paraguayan striker who has taken the English Premiership by storm this season.
"But it is an advantage having been so closely associated with him at club level," added the Bafana captain, "and knowing quite a bit about his style and how he performs."
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Rugby
