S. African World Cup coach not worried after draw
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While South African football fans rued their national team's one-all draw against lowly Namibia on Wednesday night, the coach said there was nothing to worry about.
South Africa have the lowest ranking of any FIFA World Cup host team, at position 81. Their inability to overcome Namibia, ranked 109, has raised fears South Africa may in June become the first host side ever to have been eliminated in the first round of a FIFA World Cup.
Yet Carlos Alberto Parreira, head coach of the team known as Bafana Bafana, said on Thursday there is no need to panic after the draw at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban.
South Africa played for 70 minutes before their striker Katlego Mphela scored. Namibia were on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute, thanks to a goal by Rudolf Bester.
Parreira, who will be taking his players to Brazil for a month-long training camp at the weekend, told the South African Press Association (SAPA) he believes he will be able to mould Bafana into a competitive unit before they host Mexico in the opening World Cup Group A match at the new Soccer City in Johannesburg on June 11.
Said Parreira: "It is always better to win, but this draw is not the end of the world as we will not face sides like Namibia in the World Cup.
Namibia defended with 10 men behind the ball and at the World Cup it will be South Africa that will be under pressure in defence, he said. "It will be totally different."
Parreira also said he will have a very different side out against Mexico: "We will have a more experienced team at the World Cup.
"Our preparation will be boosted if we can get players from European clubs released early in May."
Parreira also told SAPA he was hoping to line up four more friendly home matches during May which he will use to fine tune his squad.
When playing against Namibia, South Africa "did all right in the first half but we lacked patience.
"We need to play the ball on the ground more. Once we did that we scored. We had enough chances to win but the main thing is that we learn from these matches."
