BAFANA BAFANA: Parreira optimistic ahead of Japan clash

Not all os broken, as Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Parreira said that he is optimistic about his team’s success against Japan when the World Cup hosts take on the Asians in a friendly international at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm).

Parreira rolled up his sleeves and put his troops through their paces since the team landed in PE on Tuesday and the mood within the camp looked cheerful.

Speaking to the media at the team hotel on Wednesday, the Brazilian mentor seemed content to see that all that he had left behind in his first spell as Bafana coach had not completely collapsed.

“The difference this week is that the young players are more mature, after the FIFA Confederations Cup they are more confident. It shows that the secret at the Confed Cup was being together for a long time.

“Me and Joel Santana are not too different, I just hope the players do not struggle to adapt to my ways of doing things – but our strength has always been technique, we cannot play physically because we don’t understand that style,” said Parreira.

Commenting ahead of his first challenge against the visiting Asians, Parreira added that he believed his boys are up to the challenge.

“We have to play our normal game against Japan, both sides have contrasting styles but on the day it’s the team that will impose itself on the other that will win the match.

“We need to face this game with renewed confidence, we have to give our best and hope for a good start with a victory.”