"I'll even compete to play at left-back if Bafana need me" - goalkeeper Darren Keet

27 March 2017 - 18:31 By Mkhululi Ndamase
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Until the current generation of Bafana Bafana players win something‚ it would be difficult to call them the greatest national team ever assembled‚ goalkeeper Darren Keet said on Monday.

Bafana face Angola in a friendly international at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London on Tuesday night and Keet said it would be good for the country if the new national team coach keeps the core of the team together and beefs it up with in-form players every now and then.

“It’s a good feeling for the guys to be recognised as probably one of the best teams around for South Africa‚" he said.

"Hopefully it only gets better from there.”

Asked if he agreed with his teammate Kamohelo Mokotjo‚ who has been quoted as saying he is honoured to be part of the best-ever squad to be assembled‚ the Bidvest Wits goalkeeper said it was “hard to say”.

“We've had a lot of teams that have done well for Bafana. Obviously they won the Africa Nations Cup in '96 and the team that went to the 2002 World Cup actually did well.

“ As a team we haven't achieved much – we haven't won so it's hard to really say on that basis because people want a team who are going to win things‚” he said.

“I think we need a chance. We need a chance to get there and then we can see later what happens.

"You can never say a team is the best when you haven't won a thing‚ so let's hope we do get there. Let's hope we do go upwards and continue to improve as a team.”

Bafana won their friendly 3-1 against Guinea-Bissau at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.

Asked how he felt about competing for the first team jersey with captain Itumeleng Khune‚ Keet said competition was healthy.

“I'm always here to work harder. I think myself and Shu-Aib Walters and the other keepers that come in and always work hard.

“We're ready to perform just as much as anyone else in the team. I'll even compete to play at left-back if they need me.

"That doesn't bother me.

"At the end of the day‚ I'm here to do a job for South Africa and whatever my job is‚ I'll do it‚” he said.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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