SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Confidence the key to South Africa World Cup campaign

Record ID: 453213

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Confidence the key to South Africa World Cup campaign
  • Date: 1st May 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 30, 2010) (REUTERS) O.R. THAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARRIVAL HALL SOUTH AFRICAN FANS SINGING AND DANCING SECURITY PERSONNEL MORE OF FANS SINGING AND DANCING SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONAL TEAM ARRIVING FANS CHEERING SOUTH AFRICA'S COACH CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA WITH SOCCER PLAYERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TEKO MODISE, SOUTH AFRICA MIDFIELDER, SAYING: "I think if there is one thing that we are lacking right now it is scoring goals. There's nothing else, scoring goals will bring us confidence, more confidence than we need, that's the only thing that we are lacking right now." SOUTH AFRICAN'S NATIONAL TEAM POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS MORE OF FANS SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS ADDRESSING JOURNALISTS JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA, SOUTH AFRICA COACH, SAYING: "The preparation is vital but I would always prefer rather to play strong teams." JOURNALISTS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) COACH, SOUTH AFRICA, CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA, SAYING: "Let's not put pressure on our boys. The pressure myself as a coach I want to win all the games, I want to lift the trophy on the 11 July. My staff, my officials, my country, my players, but you don't have to put the pressure that you have to be there in the final, you have to give the best, you have to fight for the country, you have to be proud of them. This is what we are doing to create this team spirit and I am sure I'm telling you that we are going to have it. We showed it in the Confederations Cup that with the team together, with the country behind us, this team can grow. They prove it and we want to repeat it, that's what football is all about." JOURNALISTS WIDE OF MEDIA CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 16th May 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA65ESMYS4SZ2CVKV9WTURI16CF
  • Story Text: World Cup host South Africa's soccer squad was welcomed home by excited fans when they returned to Johannesburg's O.R. Thambo airport on Friday (April 30) following a three week training camp in Germany.
    The trip was part of their preparation for the tournament, which runs between June 11 and July 11, and follows a similar month long training camp in Brazil.
    Interim captain for the World Cup Teko Modise said all the team are lacking is goalscoring as they seek to improve confidence within the side.
    "I think if there is one thing that we are lacking right now it is scoring goals. There's nothing else, scoring goals will bring us confidence, more confidence than we need, that's the only thing that we are lacking right now," he said.
    South Africa has recently played against nations such as North Korea and Jamaica, ranked lowly by FIFA, as part of their build-up, however coach Carlos Alberto Parreira would have preferred stiffer opposition.
    "The preparation is vital but I would always prefer rather to play strong teams," said Parreira Pressure is mounting on South Africa as host nation but Parreira says the team need the support of the home fans to produce their best form.
    "Let's not put pressure on our boys. You don't have to put the pressure that you have to be there in the final, you have to give the best, you have to fight for the country, you have to be proud of them," he said.
    "This is what we are doing to create this team spirit and I am sure I'm telling you that we are going to have it. We showed it in the Confederations Cup that with the team together, with the country behind us, this team can grow."
    South Africa will begin training on home soil next week, with European based players expected to return in mid May when their league seasons have ended.
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