USA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - South Africa and Brazil train before their Confederations Cup match

Record ID: 452660

  • Title: USA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - South Africa and Brazil train before their Confederations Cup match
  • Date: 25th June 2009
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 24, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE OF RAND STADIUM WITH SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM PREPARING TO START TRAINING COACH SANTANA TALKING TO PLAYERS VARIOUS OF PLAYERS STRETCHING STADIUM WORKERS LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF TEAM PLAYING WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) BAFANA CAPTAIN AARON MOKOENA SAYING: "We are looking forward to a very exciting game for us, a game that we have been waiting for for a very very long time, and its great that this time the coach (Santana) will be supporting the South African, trying to make sure that South Africa beat Brazil. So its a very very exciting moment for us." JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SOUTH AFRICA COACH JOEL SANTANA, TALKING ABOUT STRIKER BERNARD PARKER, SAYING: "He is a new talent we are getting used to. And it wouldn't be good if he didn't take part, for him or for us. We would like to have all our team complete so we don't have to have any excuses when winning or drawing the match." BRAZILIAN TEAM TRAINING AT THE COCA COLA ELLES PARK VARIOUS OF BRAZIL TEAM RUNNING/STRETCHING KAKA HANDING OUT BIBS TEAM PLAYING ON PITCH COACH DUNGA AND FIFA OFFICIAL AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN COACH, DUNGA SAYING: "We have experienced players. Every day people come with fresh demands on the players. All of us have to be ready for every challenge and then the next match comes and there are other challenges to overcome. This is normal for the Brazilian national team." MORE OF BRAZILIAN TEAM PLAYING WIDE OF ELLES PARK STADIUM.
  • Embargoed: 10th July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA6ZT0IV49FSJUHH1LEV6X0Z493
  • Story Text: South Africa are hoping to upset soccer greats Brazil when they meet in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup in Johannesburg on Thursday (June 26).
    On the way to the semi-finals, South Africa drew with Iraq, beat New Zealand before losing to Spain.
    Captain Aaron Mokoena says they as happy to be playing Brazil at home.
    "We are looking forward to a very exciting game for us, a game that we have been waiting for for a very very long time, and its great that this time the coach (Santana) will be supporting the South African, trying to make sure that South Africa beat Brazil. So its a very very exciting moment for us," Mokoena told reporters at Johannesburg's Rand stadium.
    Theis Brazilian coach Joel Santana will also have to deal with the mixed emotions of trying to plot the downfall of his native country.
    His plans could be disrupted, however, by doubts about key striker Bernard Parker, who has a knee injury and must pass a late fitness before the match.
    "It wouldn't be good if he didn't take part, for him or for us," said Santana. "We would like to have all our team complete so we don't have to have any excuses when winning or drawing the match," he said, sidestepping the possibility of defeat.
    Brazil who have come through to the semis by beating Egypt, USA and Italy, also held their training session at the Elles pars stadium and they were set to have their full squad ready for the Thursday clash.
    Coach Dunga said that his team was used to the demands of a tournament like the Confederations Cup.
    "We have experienced players. Every day people come with fresh demands on the players. All of us have to be ready for every challenge and then the next match comes and there are other challenges to overcome. This is normal for the Brazilian national team."
    In the other semi final set to be played on Wednesday night, Spain take on the USA, with the winner clashing with the winner of the Thursday match.
    Many people are hoping for that the final to be played on Sunday 28 June will be between Spain and Brazil.
    The Reuters Sports blog : ---------------------------------------------------- http://blogs.reuters.com/sport/ The Reuters Soccer Blog : -------------------------------------- http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/ The editorial support site: -------------------------------------- http://tveditorialsupport.reuters.com/?cat=6
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