Moment of truth for Bafana

IT is game on as Bafana Bafana face their moment of truth when they meet tough-as-teak Uruguay at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on tonight in what promises to be a colossal second Group A clash.

Both teams drew their opening group matches and victory will virtually propel the 2010 World Cup hosts into the second round for the first time in Bafana’s history, while defeat would mean an uphill battle in the final group match against France in Bloemfontein on June 22.
Bafana have failed to get past the group stage at the 1998 World Cup in France and again in the 2002 global event in South Korea.
But after that gutsy 1-1 draw against the highly regarded Mexico at a packed Soccer City last Friday in the opening Group A clash, the nation is waiting with baited breath and a new found belief in this new-look Bafana who are playing far better than their lowly 83rd world ranking suggests. Uruguay were reduced to 10 men in the second half against France and managed to hold on for a 0-0 draw in a hard fought opener at Cape Town’s Greenpoint Stadium in their Friday showdown.
Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira who has guided Bafana to a stunning 13 match unbeaten run since taking charge last November, this week said the group was now wide open.
‘Considering the quality of Mexico and the result against them, we know we are in this group right to the end.’
Much will, however, depend on the likes of Steven Pienaar, who on Monday promised to come to the party against Uruguay, after an average performance against Mexico. – Nampa-Sapa