Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeping coach, Alex Heredia, expresses confidence in the Hugo Broos-led national team's ability to excel in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
This Saturday marks the initiation of South Africa's Group C World Cup campaign as they face Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The six-team group also includes Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.
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Heredia contends that Bafana Bafana possesses a formidable squad, emphasizing the well-balanced blend of youth and experience. In an interview with KickOff, he asserts, "Our team is strong; it combines both the vigor of youth and the wisdom of experience."
The former coach remains optimistic about South Africa's journey to the FIFA World Cup finals, describing it as potentially effortless.
He elaborates, "Our team has the capability to make this journey appear quite straightforward. It ultimately depends on our national attitude – whether we choose optimism or pessimism. I believe in our potential for success."
When assessing the competition within the group, Heredia suggests that Rwanda is beatable, citing their previous defeats. Regarding Nigeria, he acknowledges their historical prominence but argues that, presently, they are not superior to South Africa on the field. He emphasizes, "While Nigeria holds a powerful historical standing, the current team does not surpass us."
Surprisingly, Heredia identifies Zimbabwe as a formidable adversary, urging caution. He remarks, "Zimbabwe is a team that demands our utmost attention; they are robust and formidable. In our group, they pose the greatest challenge."
Regarding Lesotho, Heredia acknowledges the potential for an upset but doubts their ability to overcome South Africa. He states, "Lesotho may present a challenge, but I don't believe they can defeat us."
Reflecting on his recent visit to Benin for a FIFA course, Heredia sees the upcoming match as evenly matched, labeling it a 50/50 encounter.
However, he boldly asserts, "Theoretically, we can secure a 2-0 victory this Saturday. This is my perspective."
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