Quinton Fortune backs SA Olympic team
Former Bafana Bafana international Quinton Fortune believes the South Africa under-23 Olympic football team will surprise many people in Brazil.
Fortune was part of the Olympic team that shocked the world to beat Brazil 3-1 at the Games in Sydney in 2000.
The former Manchester United midfielder has backed the team to do one better and qualify for the semi-finals this time around.
"They had a very good team, and I think a lot of people were surprised that we ended up beating them," Fortune told Fifa.
"To be honest, we were surprised as well, because it was Brazil. It was good to test ourselves against some of the best in the world.
Brazil and Neymar are scary‚ but the pressure is on them, says coach Da Gama Brazil including Neymar is scary‚ but the pressure is on the hosts‚ said South Africa Under-23 coach Owen Da Gama‚ exhorting his team to try for another Olympic Games shock of the world’s most famous football team.
"The pressure is on Brazil. You saw the last World Cup, the amount of pressure that was on the national team. I would just tell [the South African team] to enjoy every moment. Of course they want to get a good result. Win, first of all, but if not, at least get a draw. You need to be well-organised.
"Rivaldo Coetzee from Ajax Cape Town is a strong central defender, Keagan Dolly, who's at Mamelodi Sundowns, is a good midfielder and Phumlani Ntshangase is also a talented player - these are players who should be making a difference."
South Africa will face the hosts Brazil in the tournament opener at the Maracana Stadium on Thursday.