Until the current crop of Bafana Bafana players win something, it would be difficult to call the team the best national team ever to be assembled, goalkeeper Darren Keet said today.
Keet was talking to DispatchLIVE in East London ahead of their international friendly with Angola at the Buffalo City Stadium at 7pm tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
Keet said it would be good for the country if the incoming coach would keep the core of the team together and beef it up with in-form players every now and then.
“It’s a good feeling for the guys to be recognised as probably one of the best teams around for South Africa. Hopefully it only gets better from there,” he said.
Asked if he agreed with his teammate Kamohelo Mokotjo who has been quoted as saying he is honoured to be part of the best-ever squad to be assembled, the Bidvist Wits shot stopper said it was “hard to say”.
“We've had a lot of teams that have done well for Bafana. Obviously they won the Africa Nations Cup in '96 and the team that went to the 2002 World Cup actually did well.
“ As a team we haven't achieved much – we haven't won so it's hard to really say on those basis because people want a team who are going to win things,” he said.
“I think we need a chance. We need a chance to get there and then we can see later what happens. You can never say a team is the best when you haven't won a thing, so let's hope we do get there. Let's hope we do go upwards and continue to improve as a team.”
Bafana won their friendly 3-1 against Guinea-Bissau at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Asked how he felt about competing for the first team jersey with captain Itumeleng Khune, Keet said competition was healthy.
“I'm always here to work harder. I think myself and Shu-Aib Walters and the other keepers that come in and always work hard.
“We're ready to perform just as much as anyone else in the team. I'll even compete to play left back if they need me. That doesn't bother me. At the end of the day, I'm here to do a job for South Africa and whatever my job is, I'll do it,” he said.
It's difficult to call Bafana team the best ever, says Keet
Keet was talking to DispatchLIVE in East London ahead of their international friendly with Angola at the Buffalo City Stadium at 7pm tomorrow (Tuesday) night.
Keet said it would be good for the country if the incoming coach would keep the core of the team together and beef it up with in-form players every now and then.
“It’s a good feeling for the guys to be recognised as probably one of the best teams around for South Africa. Hopefully it only gets better from there,” he said.
Asked if he agreed with his teammate Kamohelo Mokotjo who has been quoted as saying he is honoured to be part of the best-ever squad to be assembled, the Bidvist Wits shot stopper said it was “hard to say”.
“We've had a lot of teams that have done well for Bafana. Obviously they won the Africa Nations Cup in '96 and the team that went to the 2002 World Cup actually did well.
“ As a team we haven't achieved much – we haven't won so it's hard to really say on those basis because people want a team who are going to win things,” he said.
“I think we need a chance. We need a chance to get there and then we can see later what happens. You can never say a team is the best when you haven't won a thing, so let's hope we do get there. Let's hope we do go upwards and continue to improve as a team.”
Bafana won their friendly 3-1 against Guinea-Bissau at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Asked how he felt about competing for the first team jersey with captain Itumeleng Khune, Keet said competition was healthy.
“I'm always here to work harder. I think myself and Shu-Aib Walters and the other keepers that come in and always work hard.
“We're ready to perform just as much as anyone else in the team. I'll even compete to play left back if they need me. That doesn't bother me. At the end of the day, I'm here to do a job for South Africa and whatever my job is, I'll do it,” he said.
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