Parreira Worries About SA's Build-up to the Finals

Posted Thursday, April 22, 2010 by sportinglife.aol.co.uk

Carlos Parreira is Right to Worry About South Africa's Build-up to the Finals

Parreira Worries About SA's Build-up to the Finals They are not the words South Africa's football authorities wanted to hear so close the the start of the World Cup.

"When I rejoined South Africa in November, we should have had games organised but we did not. So are these warm-ups my ideal games? No, they're simply what was possible."

Carlos Alberto Parreira's unflattering comments about the quality of the hosts' pre-World Cup friendlies give the impression that South Africa's coach could be getting his excuses in early ahead of the tournament.

Parreira's side play an international friendly against China in Germany on April 28. In addition, Bafana Bafana will also play three club sides although only one match, the clash with FC Nuremberg on April 22, has been confirmed.

With a potential May date with Argentina hanging in the balance, South Africa's sole confirmed friendly in the run-up to the World Cup is a meeting with Denmark on June 5.

Brazilian Parreira is clearly irritated that his players are not facing tougher opposition as he prepares them for games against superior opposition in the shape of Group A opponents Mexico, Uruguay and 1998 world champions France.

"I tried Brazil - personally - and I tried Germany and England, but they could not play us because their calendar was already full," said Parreira.

"So are these warm-ups my ideal games? No, they're simply what was possible," Parreira admitted. "But they are enough for us to get a good preparation. Denmark are a good team, and we might play Colombia or Wales as well."

South Africa's countdown to the World Cup has seen them play matches this year against Swaziland (6-2), Zimbabwe (3-0), Namibia (1-1) and away to a weak Paraguay side (1-1).

The friendly with China, ranked 84 in the world, will at least allow Parreira to run the rule over a trio of forgotten internationals.

He has unexpectedly recalled forwards Siyabonga Nomvete, 32, and Katlego Mashego, neither of whom has made a Parreira squad since the coach's reappointment.

Though Nasief Morris was not chosen for a camp that falls outside the international calendar, the only South African playing in Spain's La Liga was given some cause for hope.

"This is not the final camp, nor the final list," said Parreira. "Players are not in, nor out, and we will consider later whether we take someone like Nasief for the final camp or not."

Morris has not played for South Africa since falling out with previous coach Joel Santana on the eve of last year's Confederations Cup, a dry run for June's World Cup.

Yet both the experienced Moroka Swallows' Nomvete, who last played for Bafana Bafana in 2007 but who has found a new lease of life, and Mashego, even though the Orlando Pirates' forward has struggled for form this season, were recalled.

Meanwhile, six players from last month's camp in Brazil were dropped - with the World Cup dreams of Daine Klate, Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Thulani Serero, Tlou Segolela and Richard Henyekane now hanging by a thread.

The sixth player to go, Kermit Erasmus, may still make South Africa's final training camp in Johannesburg next month.

The Excelsior Rotterdam forward, who shone at last year's under-20's World Cup, was only allowed to join the camp in Brazil after being given special permission by his Dutch club.