Bafana deny rift reports

Sibaya plays down talk of disharmony in camp

Last updated: 18th June 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Bafana deny rift reports

Sibaya: Bafana united

Related links

Teams

Also see

South Africa have played down reports of a bust-up between coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and captain Aaron Mokoena.

The duo were said to have had a difference of opinion following Wednesday's 3-0 defeat by Uruguay which has left the hosts on the brink of elimination.

Bafana Bafana's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 are hanging by a thread ahead of their final Group A game against France, whose loss to Mexico also leaves them on a single point, with the top two each on four points apiece.

Midfielder Macbeth Sibaya believes suggestions that all is not well in the camp have come about as they face being the first host nation not to progress beyond the group stage.

A draw between Uruguay and Mexico in their final match would see both sides progress to the knockout phase and eliminate South Africa and Les Bleus.

Negative

Sibaya said: "I suppose now that we lost, the journalists need negative stories.

"There is no tension or problems amongst anyone."

Midfielder Sibaya, who plays for Russian side Rubin Kazan, insists they will now give everything in a bid to gain their first win of the competition.

He added: "We need to show more character and more fighting spirit than we did against Uruguay. We lost badly to Uruguay and I believe we could have done more.

"We need to go out and fight to regain our pride. We need to do a lot better against France and finish the tournament on a winning note."