Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Bafana must travel from Monterrey to Pachuca and then Los Angeles before Sunday’s knockout match against Canada.
- Hugo Broos says recovery matters more than training as South Africa tries to reach the World Cup last 16.
Bafana Bafana will bank on rest, not training, before their World Cup knockout clash against Canada.
Coach Hugo Broos said recovery is now the priority after South Africa’s 1-0 win over South Korea in Monterrey.
That result sent Bafana into the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.
South Africa will now face Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on Sunday.
But Bafana have a difficult travel schedule before the match.
They fly from Monterrey to Pachuca on Thursday, then leave for Los Angeles on Friday. Pachuca, which is 95km from Mexico City, has been Bafana’s training base.
Broos said the schedule is not ideal because the flight from Mexico City to Los Angeles is almost four hours.
“It is a bit of a pity that we have to travel to Pachuca on Thursday and then to LA after that. We wanted to go to LA on Thursday already, but Fifa didn’t allow it,” said Broos.
“That is a bit annoying because we wanted to travel tomorrow to where we are playing the match, but it’s not like that.”
Broos said Bafana must now recover properly.
“We will have to recuperate very well in the next few days and training is not that important,” he said.
He said the players will start analysing Canada and prepare as best they can.
“Recovery is the most important thing and on Sunday you are going to see a team that believes in themselves and a team that is going to fight very hard for 90 minutes,” said Broos.
Canada lost 2-1 to Switzerland in Vancouver and missed the chance to finish top of Group B.
That means they no longer have the advantage of playing in Vancouver.
Broos said Bafana are growing at the right time.
“We are not afraid of other teams. We will always fight like against South Korea and we will do it on Sunday also,” he said.
Teboho Mokoena will be available again after suspension.
Canada are ranked 31st in the world and have players in strong leagues, including Major League Soccer.
Broos said Bafana want to stay in the tournament as long as possible.
“I don’t know what is going to happen on Sunday, but I know the players will be ready to try to get to the next round, which will be even more historic,” he said.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says recovery will matter more than training before the Canada clash.
Image source: @BafanaBafana
