It took 12 years and ten matches for South Africa to finally get their
maiden win over South American opposition - but when it finally came it
was in fine style.
Bafana Bafana (the Boys) achieved the feat in emphatic fashion yesterday
with a 3-0 thumping of an in-form Paraguay team who currently top the
South American qualifying standings for the 2010 FIFA World CupT in South
Africa after four rounds.
The South Africans' first match against South American opponents was a
1-1 draw with Argentina back in May 1995 and four draws in nine games
was their only return until last night. Fittingly, it was with revered
Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira in charge that Bafana broke their
South American duck at Tshwane's Super Stadium.
It was a fantastic result an elated Parreira said would "send echoes"
around the footballing world.
Those teams in the upper echelons of world football would hardly be quaking
in their boots just yet, given that South Africa are currently sandwiched
between Uzbekistan and Costa Rica in a lowly 71st place in the FIFA/Coca-Cola
world ranking and are only the 17th best team in Africa after a tame first
round exit at the recent CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Nevertheless, it was a hugely significant win for the 2010 hosts who are
very much in a rebuilding phase after a period of steady freefall in international
football in recent years.
France, Korea Republic (co-hosting with Japan) and Germany have shown
in the last three FIFA World Cup tournaments just how important it is
for the success of the tournament for the hosts to put in a good showing
and South Africa will be under tremendous pressure to do just that in
2010.
Parreira has tried to retain the experienced core of his squad, while
at the same time bringing in a number of talented locally-based youngsters.
The Paraguay win came on a record-breaking night, on which Blackburn Rovers
striker Benni McCarthy scored his 30th international goal to became the
country's all-time top scorer and his Blackburn teammate Aaron Mokoena
won his 74th cap to draw level with former Charlton striker Shaun Bartlett
as the team's most capped player.
Locally-based Mamelodi Sundowns striker Surprise Moriri opened the scoring
with a fine first-half volley, with McCarthy heading in the second and
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala getting the third from long
range in a game when all finally fell into place for Parreira's team.
"Confidence is built by results. 3-0 was a good result for us. We
deserved it and we worked for it. I said before this game that it's time
for us to start winning. We want development in the team and results and
this game was very promising," Parreira told FIFA.com after the game.
Dominance on the day
It wasn't only the result that pleased Parreira, it was the dominating
nature of the performance against an experienced team ranked 21st in the
world, who have thrashed Ecuador 5-1 and Chile 3-0 in their last two 2010
FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
"I am not only happy with the result, I am happy with the performance
of the team on the ground against a big team. They imposed themselves
on Paraguay. Our strength is skill and technique, we can't run away from
that. We're good when we put the ball on the ground and we did that in
this game. I am so happy. This gives us a good push. Paraguay play Brazil
in their next qualifying game and this result will have echoes abroad,"
said Parreira.
While fully aware of the fact that Parreira's Bafana team are a young,
inexperienced outfit, South African football fans have nevertheless shown
signs of impatience with the coach's development plans for the team.
The Paraguay result, however, was the perfect riposte for the Brazilian
coach.
"I learnt long ago in my professional life one lesson I believe is
important to everybody: Mother Nature does not produce junk. It's a process
and I believe we are on the right track. We know what we're doing. We're
checking players and giving shape to the team. We have to be a little
patient in this process. We have to renovate the team, build and then
get results," said Parreira.
He's won many a match with the best in the business in a long, distinguished
career. This is one, though, is one he will savour.
,
27 March 2008
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