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| Bafana vs Zambia |
Renard has been quite bullish about his team’s chances in the semifinal clash at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium here (kick-off 8pm) after Zambia wiped the floor with Mozambique 3-1 in the quarter-final. Zimbabwe and Lesotho play in the other last-four match.
Igesund, though, is pleased that Frenchman Renard is so vocal about Zambia’s chances.
“Renard says Bafana Bafana will fall. All I can say about that is that I can’t remember when last a coach has predicted the outcome of a match properly,” Igesund said.
“I was really happy to hear that, because almost 10 times out of 10 the opposite happens. That’s just how it works. He has also put his team under huge pressure now.”
Igesund, though, says he was very impressed with Zambia’s showing in the quarterfinal, especially their wing play, which saw them regularly get in behind the Mozambicans.
Zambia have plenty of pace down flanks, and Bafana certainly struggled in their quarterfinal when Namibia played with width, especially on the left side.
But the South Africans were better in that department when Igesund moved Mzikayise Mashaba to left back from his left-half position.
“I think Zambia played a good quarterfinal against Mozambique. They played with speed, and looked really dangerous. But then again they didn’t play Bafana Bafana,” Igesund said.
“No disrespect to Mozambique, but they were totally outclassed. They afforded Zambia too much space and made them look good. Mozambique just didn’t look in it.
“I don’t think it’s going to be that easy to break us down, but it’s also not going to be easy to break them down as well,” the Bafana coach added.
Igesund’s team has been rocked by the withdrawal of central defender Bevan Fransman and injuries to playmaker Lerato Chabangu, central defender Tshepo Gumede and striker Edward Manqele.
But the coach feels the team is a lot more settled after arriving in Zambia last Wednesday.
Before the quarterfinal against Namibia, Bafana only had two training sessions, which Igesund mostly devoted to getting this inexperienced squad organised.
But in the past few days the coach has worked on the tactical aspects of the game ahead of the semi-final.
“We have come on a lot since our first game, because the players were just not used to each other. I think the players are more familiar with each other, having spent time together and they are feeling good,” the four-time Premiership winner said.
“We have done a lot of good work in a short space of time, and we are ready.
“The training sessions have been great over the past few days. Everyone looks so much crisper and sharper. The movement is better, because when the ball was played in a certain area against Namibia, the players were a second too slow.
“The players are feeling good and they have a spring in their step. They know it’s going to be a tough game, but I don’t think they have the fear they might have had coming into this tournament.”
Bafana also had lots of practice playing in a hostile environment when they played Namibia.
The Zambian public had adopted the Brave Warriors as their second team in this tournament, and gave the South Africans a hard time every time they were on the ball.
Tonight, at the impressive Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, the noise level and intensity are going to be a lot higher, as Zambia’s “12th man” on the stands will be in full voice.
“When we played against Namibia, 90 percent of the crowd were supporting them. They later cheered for us, but I don’t think the Zambians will turn on their team,” Igesund said.
“That is the advantage of hosting a tournament, because you have the crowd behind you and that does boost your team. To have the 12th man is key, but we are still ready for the game, even though they have the advantage.” - The Star
Source - iol.co.za
tags : bafana, zambia, cozafa, 2013 cosafa, bafana vs zambia, south africa vs zambia
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