By Obakeng Maje

Jonannesburg-The Ministry of Sport has sent a message of support to Bafana Bafana, ahead of their clash with Brazil later tonight.

In a message sent through to the South African Football Association (SAFA) the Ministry said while they are aware of the tough task that awaits the national team tonight, they were confident, under the guidance of coach Gordon Igesund, the squad would give a good account of themselves.

The message reads: “We hereby wish to express our unwavering support for the coach, Gordon Igesund and the National soccer team, Bafana Bafana as they are taking on the mighty, five-time world champions, Brazilians in Soa Paulo this evening. We are under no illusion about the enormity of the task at hand, but South Africans have always shown resilience in the face of adversity. Of course Brazil are no strangers to us, having played them home and away in the past.

The fact that they are playing a full strength team demonstrates that they are indeed out to scalp South Africa.

It is a significant occasion, given that it is Brazil’s national day and South Africa will as the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts also symbolically hand over to the 2014 FIFA World Cup hosts. 

We are conscious that our coach had to make late changes to the team because of injuries to key players and that this impacted on preparations, strategy, etc. However, we must rise to the occasion like the proverbial phoenix, make the nation proud and restore our illustrious pedigree. We wish them well.”

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