Audio By Carbonatix
Defender Anele Ngcongca has urged South Africa fans to get behind coach Pitso Mosimane in the build-up to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil.
The South African FA (Safa) has told Mosimane he must reach the final after failing to qualify for the 2012 edition in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
"The coach is trying to build a team to go to the African Nations Cup and then the World Cup in Brazil," the Bafana Bafana right back, 24, told BBC Sport.
"So everyone has to give him a chance."
Defender Anele Ngcongca has urged South Africa fans to get behind coach Pitso Mosimane in the build-up to the 2013 Nations Cup on home soil.
Ngcongca has become a permanent fixture at right back after playing against France at the 2010 World Cup and then helping his club Racing Genk win the title in Belgium last year.
And despite the mounting pressure on Mosimane following last month's goalless draw at home to Senegal, the defender believes Bafana Bafana can silence their critics.
"I know that the people at home are disappointed because we haven't been scoring goals but we are trying to look at the positives," he said.
"I think we are lucky to have a coach like Pitso - everyone works hard for him and we went into the match against Senegal knowing we needed to win for the country to get the spirit back.
"Unfortunately we missed some chances to win the game, but afterwards we still felt confident that we are heading in the right direction.
"We have to keep our heads up now and it will come right."
South Africa have not won since August, a run which has seen them score just twice in their last six matches.
This includes the infamous 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone when South African officials mistakenly believed they had made it through to the Nations Cup.
The goal drought has even led to speculation that record goalscorer Benni McCarthy should be recalled after finding the net five times for his club Orlando Pirates.
Leeds United striker Davide Somma has also been unavailable all season due to injury, leading Ngcongca to acknowledge that the 1996 champions rely too much on top scorer Katlego Mphela.
"Everything was going so well for us and then suddenly we stopped scoring goals at a crucial time," he said. "We put a lot of pressure on Katlego but it all starts from our league back home.
"So many times you see that the top scorer is from Zambia or Zimbabwe and it's something Safa needs to do something about so we can develop the next (Siyabonga) Nomvete or McCarthy.
"We really need to develop some more strikers to have a chance of being successful."
After making his Uefa Champions League debut for Genk in a group that included Chelsea, Ngcongca is now hoping for a move to a bigger league at the end of the season.
"I've heard some teams have been following me ever since the last game in the World Cup against France when I got my big chance," he admitted.
"I grabbed it with both hands and I haven't looked back with the national team. But sometimes things don't go as you want and you have to keep pushing hard to achieve your dreams."
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Galamsey destroying fish farms, threatening aquaculture – Fisheries Commission
12 minutes -
Adu-Boahene trial put on hold pending Supreme Court decision on legal vacation
21 minutes -
Toxic exposure from galamsey puts elderly at greater risk of kidney damage — Public health expert
44 minutes -
Big talk, small receipts: the politics of promises and policy
46 minutes -
Mahama says Ghana will reduce 70% medicine import dependence under five-year plan
49 minutes -
Study reveals high rate of uropathogens among Ghanaian elderly
51 minutes -
Christabel wins first Star Chef title as Big Chef Season 5 begins
51 minutes -
Tanker drivers begin three-day strike over alleged fuel measurement inaccuracies at BOST Kumasi
52 minutes -
Trump says US to reduce military drills with South Korea after it stayed out of Iran war
54 minutes -
Greater Manchester NDC UK branch elects new executives
54 minutes -
Ghana’s anti-corruption fight has stagnated— Transparency International
59 minutes -
UMB, ORC partner to make business registration easier for entrepreneurs
1 hour -
Cedi is ‘long overdue for a refresh’ – Mahama
1 hour -
GenCED urges NPP to extend 50% nomination fee reduction to women, youth and PWDs
1 hour -
The source of cedi appreciation matters more than the appreciation itself
1 hour