Johannesburg – Former Bafana coach Clive Barker believes under current coach Gordon Igesund Bafana can come good against five-time World Cup winners Brazil when the two meet at FNB Stadium on March 5.
Under Barker, the senior national team lost 3-2 and 2-1respectively, to Brazil.
“I believe in both matches, first at FNB Stadium when we lost 3-2 having led 2-0 at half-time and secondly at Ellis Park in the 2-1 loss, we could have come up with better results had we had a bit of experience,” the Black Aces mentor said in a statement.
Barker said one aspect which Bafana Bafana had to bear in mind was, regardless of names, the match would be 11 men against 11 men.
“One of the biggest short-comings is to give too much respect to your opponents. Yes, Brazil have a star-studded team but that means nothing once you walk onto the pitch.”
He said he was impressed by Igesund's boys when they beat Spain 1-0 at the same venue in November last year and was expecting a repeat of those heroics.
“This is a big match for everyone. It is every player's dream to play against world beaters like Brazil and I think that inspiration will drive all players to go all out.”
Brazil would be using the match to launch their 2014 World Cup playing kit. They will use the home kit in the opening half and change into their away kit for the second half.
“We are using the match as a handover of the 2010 Fifa World Cup hosts to 2014 hosts,” South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan said. – Sapa