BuaNews (Tshwane)
Nthambeleni Gabara And Chris Bathembu
19 June 2009
Pretoria — FIFA President Sepp Blatter is confident that Bafana Bafana will fair well in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, judging on its current performance in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Briefing reporters ahead of Group B clash between Brazil and USA at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Thursday, Mr Blatter said judging by Bafana Bafana's latest performance, the team might go a long way and even reach the semi-finals in next year's showpiece.
"Bafana Bafana will be a good team in next year's World Cup, but only if head coach Joel Santana continues to prepare the team well and improve the player's performance," he said.
South Africa thrashed New Zealand 2-nil in a nail-biting Group A match, at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, in Rustenburg on Wednesday. This was a huge improvement for the national side following their goal-less draw against the Asian champions in the opening match of the tournament.
Mr Blatter further said that all eight participating teams had complimented the country on how they had been received and treated by South Africans.
"All of them said they are happy," said Mr Blatter, adding that he hoped this would be the case for the rest of the tournament.
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