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Parreira to ring changes
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00
Bafana Bafana are determined to take another step on the long road to recovery when they face Jamaica in their final friendly international of 2009 at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday night (kick-off 8.15pm).
Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, indicated he will
make a couple of changes to the side that drew 0-0 against Japan in
Port Elizabeth at the weekend for this clash, but he did not
indicate who will go out and who will come into the starting
line-up.
But the Brazilian coach warned Bafana would not underestimate
the Reggae Boyz.
Bafana's draw against the 40th best side in the world at the
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, showed Parreira a number of areas he
needs to fix in the seven months before the 2010 World Cup kicks
off in South Africa in June.
But it also showed Bafana are on the mend after Santana's
disastrous 17 month reign.
Parreira's biggest problem is to instill confidence in his goal
shy strikers.
When asked if he would take a different approach to Jamaica who
are ranked 69th in the world, Parreira stressed: "There is no way I
will change my approach or relax.
"There are no so called weak teams in international football
these days. We need to be tested like we were against Japan when we
play Jamaica.
"Japan have already qualified for the World Cup and they pushed
us all the way. I will treat Jamaica the same as I did Japan and I
am expecting a tough battle on Tuesday night."
Parreira warned that mighty Brazil only managed a 1-0 win over
the Jamaicans in London recently.
"That is enough warning for me that Jamaica cannot be taken
lightly."
Parreira said the spirit and morale in the camp had been lifted
after the gutsy 0-0 draw against a competitive Japanese side who
used the occasion to test conditions in South Africa and
familiarise themselves ahead of the World Cup.
While Jamaica have won three, drawn four and lost two of their
nine internationals played in 2009, the Reggae Boyz are not in the
same class as the well disciplined and organised Japanese outfit.
Head coach Theodore Whitmore has left out his three English
Premiership players - Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller, Ricardo Gardner
of Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic bad boy Marlon King.
That leaves a lot on the shoulders of their Norwegian based
players, defender Adrian Reid who plays for Lillestrom, midfielders
Rudolph Austin of Brann Bergen, Erick Vernan and Damion Williams,
who both play for Nybergsund.
Parreira said he was pleased with the performance and workrate
against Japan, but is looking for more effort and improvement in
attack and midfield.
"In defence we looked solid when we settled down, but there is
plenty of room for improvement in midfield. We also need to be more
aggressive in our build up in attack and get more shots on target.
"We need to create more chances in front of goal."
The biggest worry against Japan was that Bafana had only one
real shot on target - that from midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala.
Parreira is likely to start with the same two strikers in Benni
McCarthy and Katlego Mphela.
Bernard Parker replaced a tiring McCarthy in the final 15
minutes against Japan. But Parker appears to have lost his
confidence.
McCarthy, who warms the bench for his English Premiership club
Blackburn Rovers, needs all the game time Parreira can give him.
It is in midfield where Parreira might change things around. Teko Modise is struggling with his form, as is Kagisho Dikgacoi.
Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Daine Klate and Elrio van Heerden who
came on against Japan, are keen to catch Parreira's eye and are
keeping the other midfielders on their toes.