Parreira's plan to get Bafana ready for June

BAFANA Bafana coach Carlos ­Alberto ­Parreira has drafted a gruelling programme aimed at whipping the team into shape for the ­onerous task of impressing during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Following the damage done by his compatriot, Joel Natalino Santana, Parreira has had to come up with something to ensure that players are at least super-fit come the tournament in June.

Everybody concerned, from the SA Football Association (Safa) head honchos and the technical team to the players themselves, knows how tough a task they face.

If ever there is a time for Bafana Bafana to prove themselves, it is at the World Cup finals.

After living in the shadows of the 1996 team that won the African Cup of Nations, 2010 will be the perfect time for the current crop of players to convince all South Africans that they can stand up and be counted among the best in world football.
They showed character during the Confederations Cup in June and could not have asked for a better chance than appearing in the World Cup – in front of their supporters, nogal.

Following Santana’s dismal record of eight defeats in nine outings, Parreira seems to have restored some semblance of competence, if the games against Japan and Jamaica that he was in charge of are anything to go by.

To make sure that Bafana are in tip-top condition, Parreira had to plan carefully for the six months leading to the World Cup.

After failing to qualify for the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola, Bafana will keep themselves busy with a training camp in Durban while other African countries battle it out in Angola.

Had they qualified for Angola, Bafana would have had a great chance of getting ideal preparation for the World Cup, playing competitive matches against the giants of African football.

Parreira has drawn up a hectic schedule for the team to prepare them thoroughly for the big event, starting with the Durban camp where there is a possibility of them playing two friendly matches against neighbouring countries.

The Brazilian has emphasised the importance of keeping the players together for a longer period of time and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) has made it possible for him by agreeing to make the 2009/10 ­season shorter.

The Brazilian has made it clear that he will take only super-fit players to the World Cup and he wants to use every opportunity to prepare the team.

From KwaZulu-Natal Bafana will jet off to South America, where they will spend a month in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Bafana will play at least six official friendly matches and about 10 training matches against teams in Brazil and Germany in the build-up to the 2010 showpiece.

Parreira defended the decision to camp in Brazil, saying his birth country is the home of football. He said it would be difficult to keep the players focused for a month if they were to camp in South Africa.

“This camp is very important and will be key to our preparations. Brazil is the home of soccer and the facilities are world-class.
“We are not going there on holiday, but to work,” said Parreira.

In April Bafana head for Germany for three weeks at Adidas headquarters, where they will play two friendly matches and a number of training matches against club sides.

The only challenge for Parreira is his overseas players, who rarely get game time at their European clubs.

However, Parreira said he would write to their clubs to request their release for all the camps. Clubs are, however, not obliged to release the players as the camps do not fall under the Fifa international schedule.

Parreira is concerned with the likes of the Blackburn Rovers pair, Benni McCarthy and Elrio van Heerden; Portsmouth’s Aaron Mokoena; and Fulham’s Kagisho Dikgacoi, who are struggling to get match time in the English Premiership.

Only Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar is a regular.

Bafana open their World Cup account against Mexico on June 11 at Soccer City. They meet Uruguay on June 16 at Loftus and then France in Bloemfontein on June 22.

Could 2010 be the year for Bafana? Your guess is as good as mine.