Carlos Alberto Parreira © Backpagepix

SUNDOWNS DOMINATE SQUAD FOR BRAZIL CAMP

Bafana Bafana embark on “Operation Mount Everest” at the weekend when national head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, takes 29 players for a training camp in Brazil to prepare for June's World Cup finals on home soil.

Parreira made few surprises by opting for his tried and trusted when naming his squad in Durban on Thursday.

SuperSport United defender Morgan Gould is injured and will be sidelined for six weeks and misses the camp.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfield hard man, Matthew Pattison, was the only notable player dropped. Parreira has preferred Golden Arrows' Thanduyise Khuboni, in the midfield defensive position instead.

Khuboni was named man of the match during Wednesday's night's uninspiring 1-1 draw against minnows Namibia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

It was also announced Bafana would play three big friendly matches before the world showpiece against Mexico in the opening Group A match at Soccer City on June 11.

Bafana take on Paraguay on March 31 at the end of the South American tour.

They will meet former World Cup champions Argentina, now coached by Maradona, at Soccer City on May 27 and Denmark at home on June 5.

The venue for Denmark is still to be decided but it will be in Gauteng.

Said Parreira: “I do not want to be disrespectful to small sides (like Namibia) but we badly need to play the big sides like Denmark and Argentina to gauge our progress.

"After Brazil and the camp in Germany next month, we will have a stronger base, be fitter and much better prepared than we were against Namibia where I had one day to work with the squad.” Bafana will play four training games against Brazilian club sides before they meet Paraguay.

Parreira was only able to get two overseas based players released for the month long camp. They are striker Kermit Erasmus and midfielder Daylon Claasen, who are both based in Holland. The duo were two of the stars of the South African under-20 side at last year's World Youth Championships in Egypt.

“The camp in Brazil was not easy to organise, but it will lay the foundation for our World Cup preparations.

"I did the same with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the past and the camps were all successful.”

Parreira said the four matches in Brazil and the friendly against Paraguay would play a major part of his World Cup preparations. “You cannot walk into a supermarket and buy experience. This is the only way - going to Brazil and Germany and learning.”

Parreira said his philosophy was simple: “I want Bafana to learn to play it simple. We need to give a face and identity to South African soccer.

"We all know what Brazilian, Italian and German soccer is all about, but in South Africa we are mixed up as to our style and identity on the field. I want to give South African soccer a face the world will recognise.”

He said he would work on Bafana's strengths which is their pace and passing game. “We are physically a small side, therefore we need to learn how to use our speed and skills to better effect.

"That and many other aspects we will be working on in Brazil.”

Parreira again stated Bafana players were not fit enough to hold their own at the World Cup. Stars PSL players such as Orlando Pirates midfielder Teko Modise and Kaizer Chiefs winger Siphiwe Tshabalala, both played badly against Namibia.

“Modise's level of fitness is not up to standard. That will change after Brazil. ”

The South African Football Association CEO Leslie Sedibe, said the 1-1 draw against Namibia was a wake up call for Bafana. “We now know that it is not the Drakensberg but Everest we have to climb for the World Cup and that is a huge challenge.

The players must be warned they are not going on a holiday camp to Brazil. This is where we get the serious part of our Wold Cup preparations.

"The players must come to the party.”

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Emile Baron (SuperSport United), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)

Defenders: Matthew Booth, Siboniso Gaxa, Siyanda Xulu, Innocent Mdledle (all Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport), Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic), Siyabonga Sangweni, Lucas Thwala (Pirates)

Midfielders: Franklyn Cale, Surprise Moriri, Lebohang Mokoena (all Sundowns), Daylon Claasen (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Andile Jali, Teko Modise (both Pirates), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Daine Klate (SuperSport), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Chiefs), Tlou Segolela (Celtic)

Strikers: Kermit Erasmus (Excelsior Rotterdam, Holland), Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Gert Schalkwyk (both Pirates), Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Richard Henyekane (Arrows) and Thulani Serero (Ajax CT).