PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
2013 AFCON: SA coach appeals for calm
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - Under fire national coach Gordon Igesund has appealed for patience after host South Africa played to a goalless draw against Cape Verde in the opening match of the 29th Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday night.
The match was played in wet conditions after a day-long downpour.
While South Africa enjoyed most of the possession, it did not they take its chances in the first half.
Igesund made three changes in the second half, bringing on Lerato Chabangu, Thulani Serero and Katlego Mphela for Kagisho Dikgacoi, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Lehlohonolo Majoro respectively.
“We didn’t create any chances and so for me the first half was very disappointing and a lot of players didn’t come to the party. After working so hard at training, I believe my players froze today and our midfield didn’t play at all today as we were trying to pump the balls forward.
''We needed a little bit of creativity, but the nerves got to the players and I have never seen them like this before. We looked very desperate for a goal,” said Igesund.
He said it looked like his players were panicking by trying to play at a very high speed.
“We are facing Angola (on Wednesday) and Morocco (on Saturday) and these are games that we now need to win as we have put ourselves under pressure. We have to go for it against Angola, that is a match we have to win. In fact we have two games to play and I think five or six points might be enough to see us through,” the coach said.
Bafana Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo echoed the sentiments of the coach.
“Obviously we would have loved to get to a winning start so we could set the tone for the tournament, but nonetheless we have a point. We have another big game on Wednesday – and another one after that so there is a chance,” said Khumalo.
The second Group A clash between Morocco and Angola also ended in a stalemate, with both sides failing to find the back of the net, leaving Group A evenly matched.
Earlier, the tournament was declared open by President of Jacob Zuma.
Dignitaries who attended the colourful opening ceremony included among others President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou and the Secretary General of FIFA, Jerome Valcke.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 20Jan2013
The match was played in wet conditions after a day-long downpour.
While South Africa enjoyed most of the possession, it did not they take its chances in the first half.
Igesund made three changes in the second half, bringing on Lerato Chabangu, Thulani Serero and Katlego Mphela for Kagisho Dikgacoi, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Lehlohonolo Majoro respectively.
“We didn’t create any chances and so for me the first half was very disappointing and a lot of players didn’t come to the party. After working so hard at training, I believe my players froze today and our midfield didn’t play at all today as we were trying to pump the balls forward.
''We needed a little bit of creativity, but the nerves got to the players and I have never seen them like this before. We looked very desperate for a goal,” said Igesund.
He said it looked like his players were panicking by trying to play at a very high speed.
“We are facing Angola (on Wednesday) and Morocco (on Saturday) and these are games that we now need to win as we have put ourselves under pressure. We have to go for it against Angola, that is a match we have to win. In fact we have two games to play and I think five or six points might be enough to see us through,” the coach said.
Bafana Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo echoed the sentiments of the coach.
“Obviously we would have loved to get to a winning start so we could set the tone for the tournament, but nonetheless we have a point. We have another big game on Wednesday – and another one after that so there is a chance,” said Khumalo.
The second Group A clash between Morocco and Angola also ended in a stalemate, with both sides failing to find the back of the net, leaving Group A evenly matched.
Earlier, the tournament was declared open by President of Jacob Zuma.
Dignitaries who attended the colourful opening ceremony included among others President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou and the Secretary General of FIFA, Jerome Valcke.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 20Jan2013
