Sport

Bafana impress against Paraguay

Brad Morgan

1 April 2010

South Africa's World Cup training camp in South America gave local fans further encouragement on Wednesday night when Bafana Bafana drew 1-1 with Paraguay in Asuncion. It was a performance that left coach Carlos Alberto Parreira well satisfied.

After South Africa, playing without the team's overseas-based players, came back from a goal down to draw, Parreira hailed the side as the "Lion Kings", IOL reports.

"Paraguay were much better in the first half, we didn't control the game as we would like," Parreira said afterwards.

"In the second half we created more opportunities than them - we made good counter-attacks, and I believe the result is fair for what Paraguay have done in the first half, and for what we have done in the second half."

'We could have won'

He continued: "We are the Lion Kings, we never give up. We were the better team in the second half and could have won."

The Paraguayans, who will play against Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, dominated the first half and were rewarded in the 37th minute when midfielder Marcelo Estigarribia scored with a header after a pinpoint cross from Rodolfo Gamarra.

They kept Bafana under pressure, forcing Parreira's charges into long hit-and-hope passes to escape from their half.

"They started pressurising us and we couldn't play," said South African captain Teko Modise.

After the break, it was a different story as South Africa came out with a more aggressive intent.

'Confidence'

"In the second half we became better and started having confidence," Modise said. "If we can show character like this away from home, imagine what we can do at home."

The equaliser came from Siphiwe Tshabalala, who has been on a hot run of goal scoring on tour, with a stunning rocket from 30 metres out in the 71st minute.

With South Africa having fallen seven places to 88th in the latest Fifa World Rankings, the draw with the 23rd-ranked Paraguayans away from home would surely have felt more like a victory than a share of the spoils.

Unbeaten

Bafana Bafana remain unbeaten in their eight matches on tour, with five of those contests having ended in victory. However, many of them have been against clubs that have fielded reserve teams, so it is difficult to assess just how well the side has jelled.

They face Santos on Saturday in their final tour match and return to South Africa on Monday, 5 April.

On 9 April, coach Parreira will announce a squad for a training camp in Germany, which will take place from 13 to 28 April.