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Thursday June 25, 2009

South Africa: Let’s blow Brazil away with the vuvuzelas

JOHANNESBURG: South African players on Tuesday called on their fans to come to today’s Confedera-tions Cup semi-final with their plastic trumpets (vuvuzelas) to blow their opponents away.

Bafana goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez told a press conference after training that South African players were used to vuvuzelas.

“They create a typical South Afri-can atmosphere at the games.

“We should have something typical of Africa at the Confederations Cup and the World Cup and we should add our own flair.”

When told that Brazilian striker Robinho had said they disturb the players and should be banned, the goalkeeper, who plays for German club Arminia Bielefeld, called on fans to come in their tens of thousands with their vuvuzelas to today’s match.

“If it gives us a psychological advantage, then I hope the supporters blow even harder,” he said.

Fernandez was one of four players who was in the South African team (the others are captain Aaron Mokoena, defender Matthew Booth and goalkeeper Brian Baloyi) at the Sydney Olympics, where the South African team caused a huge upset by beating the more-fancied Brazilian team 3-1.

“The Brazilian team included their present captain Lucio and goalkeeper Julio Cesar and nobody expected us to get anything from the match.

“But the crowd just got behind us and we played really well and won.

“I am hoping it will be like that in Thursday’s game. Whatever happens, Bafana can’t really lose.

“If we lose, it is expected because we are playing against the best team in the world and if we win, it will just be terrific.” — AFP

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