Igesund: Cape will suit Bafana

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Bafana coach Gordon Igesund says the Cape Town vibe will help the South African team in their clash against the Central African Republic.

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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund revealed on Monday he had brought their 2014 World Cup qualifying match against the Central African Republic to Cape Town for a reason.

Saturday's match will be played at the Cape Town Stadium in what is a must-win game for Bafana, who currently lie third behind Ethiopia and Botswana.

“I brought it to Cape Town because we have always had a very good feeling here,” Igesund said.

“In the game against Norway, the vibe was fantastic.

“The stadium will suit us, it's a nice big stadium, CAR is a team that like to play on a small ground. They want to close people down. They want to kick. They are a physical side.”

Igesund believed the excellent playing surface and the size of the pitch would give his team an advantage, as would the potentially adverse weather conditions.

“I think the Cape Town Stadium is ideal for our game,” he said.

“If the players play the type of football they can, we can knock the ball around, don't let them get it, play attacking football with a lot of possession, and get the crowd here behind us.

“Over the years, teams come to Cape Town and always battle. It's not easy here.”

The Bafana contingent arrived in Cape Town on Monday and will have a full week to prepare for the encounter.

Igesund will fill his players in about what to expect from the CAR on Saturday, the opposition being a closed book to most South Africans.

“I'm very aware of them, and this week I'll pass the info on to my players.

“I have watched their tapes against Egypt, against Burkina Faso.

“We do know a lot about them, but both those games were at home, so they may play a little bit more effective, a bit more on the counter-attack.”

The Bafana mentor said most of the opposition's players - with the exception of two - played in Europe.

“Some are in France, some in Morocco, some at West Ham.

“So they have a formidable team and are no slouches. We won't underestimate them.

“Playing a team like the Central African Republic, it's not too bad because with the latest technology (analysis software), I get a lot of information and individual snips of players.” - Sapa