BY Obakeng Maje

Bafana Bafana defeated Vodacom League side Impala Warriors by seven goals to nil (7-0) in a practice match played at the Royal Marang Sports Complex on Saturday, 26 May 2012.

Impala Warriors is coached by former Orlando Pirates player Brandon Silent.

Siyabonga Nomvethe scored three goals with the others coming from captain Steven Pienaar, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Lehlohonolo Majoro and Andile Jali.

Bafana Bafana have been in camp for a week now preparing for two 2014 World Cup qualifiers and an international friendly match.

They will face Ethiopia in their first match at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Phokeng near Rustenburg. That match will be played on Sunday, 3 June 2012 with a 15h00 kickoff time.

‘Yes we have been working very hard, especially myself who was out of the game for such a long time due to injury. I have been pushing myself as much as possible and I am getting back to my best,” said midfielder Letsholonyane.

“The upcoming matches will obviously put us under pressure because we always want to win and make the nation proud. Also having not qualified for the last edition of the AFCON has created some kind of pressure, but we are confident enough to ride past that and do well, starting with Ethiopia.”

Defender Siboniso Gaxa concurs.

“Yes there has been a lot of pressure for us to win for a while. We started well with the 2012 AFCON qualifiers but in the end things did not go well. But this is football and we have moved on from that and are determined to start the 2014 World Cup qualifiers well and end well. We are fortunate in that the defence has been very solid, so now we need to build from there to ensure we get goals and win,” said Gaxa.

The players have been given a day off on Sunday, 27 May and will return to camp only in the evening.