Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane believes South Africa’s qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil is solely in their hands.  

There are three matches left in the qualifiers, two away encounters against Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia before rounding off the programme with a seemingly easy home clash against neighbours Botswana. 

South Africa is currently on five points in second place, with Ethiopia top of Group A with seven points, while CAR and Botswana are lying third and fourth with two points and one respectively.

“If you look at the table very carefully, we have not lost a match; we drew two and won one. With three matches to go, we have to play CAR who are below us, and Ethiopia who are above us. So if we get positive results against the two, we will top the group, and come September against Botswana we will have played our part,” said Letsholonyane. 

“The exciting thing about these qualifiers is that we have to do our own job and not depend on others to do it for us. We must just win our games and qualify. No other scenario will do.”

“Playing away has always proven to be difficult, more so because we are going to play back to back matches and it doesn’t mean we cannot return with maximum points. But we have to take one game at a time – deal with each opponent at a time, get the required result and move on to the next match because in any case the planning for each qualifier will not be the same,” said the dreadlocked midfielder.

Bafana Bafana has already played a draw against Ethiopia and defeated CAR at home, but Letsholonyane says it will be a different ball game altogether playing away. 

“That we beat CAR at home does not mean they are an easy side. They showed glimpses of being a good side with quality players, so we don’t have to take them lightly based on the past result. This is a new game altogether and we have to forget about our victory over them and focus afresh. We can’t afford to take any of the remaining matches lightly. All three countries in our group have proven to be tough opponents,” said Letsholonyane. 

“But I am confident we can return from CAR and Ethiopia victorious, and finish off the job at home against Botswana because we have become a better team with each match. I believe we have the players to fight for a positive result.”