Bafana must build confidence

Results and confidence. That is what Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is aiming for during the national side's five friendly matches ahead of the opening World Cup clash against Mexico at Soccer City on June 11.

Bafana's vital build-up programme kicks off in earnest when they host Thailand at a sold out Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday.

Kick-off is at 3.30pm. But Parreira spelt out that unfit and overweight English-based striker Benni McCarthy, who joined the squad this week, is not part of his plans against Thailand.

Said the Brazilian-born Parreira after a two hour training session at Marks Park on Friday: "Training went well today. But the most important aspects of the final training camp are the friendly matches we will be playing. It is tough because I need to get results and at the same time the team needs to perform well in getting good results.

"I cannot judge the players' fitness and readiness at training alone, that is why I have demanded five friendly matches before we play Mexico."

Parreira has three more confirmed friendly matches against Bulgaria at Soccer City on May 24; against Colombia at Cape Town's Green Point stadium on May 27 and the final dress rehearsal before the World Cup begins against Denmark also at Soccer City on June 5.

In between the Colombia and Denmark fixtures, Parreira is hoping to play Argentina. But negotiations are still ongoing between the SA Football Association and their Argentinean counterparts.

"There will be a fifth friendly. I want Argentina but there are two or three other countries lined-up who will play us should we not secure Argentina.

"It is vital I have five games to assess and get Bafana ready for the World Cup."

Parreira will make minimal changes from the side which defeated Jamaica 2-0 in Germany last month for Sunday's clash against Thailand - now coached by former Manchester United and England star Bryan Robson.

Parreira is set to replace Lance Davids as one of the midfield anchorman with Kaizer Chiefs Reneilwe Letsholonyane. He said he would not start with any of his foreign-based players who joined the camp this week.

"But," he added, "I might bring on striker Bernard Parker in the second half. I will not be making six or seven changes as we need to get consistency."

Parreria also said West Ham United striker McCarthy would not be part of the game.

"Benni has not had much game time since he joined West Ham in January through injuries and is not ready. I am prepared to work with him and get him fit by June 11. But he also has to show desire to get in shape.

"This is a two-way programme with Benni. I would rather work on his confidence and bring him in during the other friendly matches."

Parreria said he hoped to shift the weight of the burden of being the host players off their shoulders.

"We have a tough group. So tough that Brazil would struggle to qualify from it into the next round. I know there is high expectation but I want to try and keep that pressure away from my players so they can concentrate on the job at hand."

No host nation has ever lost in the first round of the World Cup. But Parreira warned that with two former world champions, France and Uruguay, plus Mexico to contend with, Bafana will have their backs against the wall and he stated that it was a matter of time before a host nation would crash in the first round.

"We want to make sure it does not happen to South Africa."

Bafana skipper Teko Modise said the local based Bafana players were fired up and he stressed they had nothing to prove with Parreira opting to leave out his foreign legion against Thailand.

"We are going to enjoy the game. We have worked hard during the past three months. Thailand will test out fitness levels and the fact we have a sellout (30 000) crowd at a new World Cup stadium in front of our home fans is a huge incentive for the players to play well and win."