Polokwane– Bafana Bafana new boy Lars Veldwijk says he is not put off by the scoring responsibility that’s been placed on his shoulders after he was selected by coach Shakes Mashaba for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Senegal.
“A striker always has to score,” he said, speaking to a few journalists at the Peter Mokaba Stadium shortly following his first training session. “There is always pressure to get goals. I hope to do that for South Africa. I am a little bit nervous, of course. But I got positive energy from the guys, learning new things and I am looking forward to it.”
Asked whether he thinks he will start in Bafana’s second qualifier in Group D, Veldwijk beamed with excitement, revealing that his father, a South African native who moved to Holland where the big striker was born 25 years ago, has already made plans to be among the spectators at the match venue.
“I hope I get to play. My father has asked if he could get time off work to come watch me play,” the KV Kortrijk forward responded. “But it depends on the coach after a few training sessions. I hope to show him in every game that I am ready for it if he needs me. Whatever decision he takes, I am proud that I am here to represent Bafana.”
Veldwijk said Polokwane was a far cry from the cold weather he is used to in Belgium, but was raring to go regardless. “They told me this is the hottest part of the country,” he explained. “It’s a little bit tough for me, but I hope to keep training hard.”
Follow Mazola Molefe on Twitter@superjourno
Independent Media