Foreign
Money motivation for Liberia against Bafana Bafana
Rumoured bonus to be paid to team
Money is the ultimate motivation and that is what Bafana Bafana are up against when they face Liberia in home and away Africa Cup of Nation (Afcon) qualifiers. According to South Africa’s head coach Hugo Broos, the West African nation will collect a bonus if they defeat Bafana and secure their tickets for next year’s tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. Where that bonus will come from was not disclosed.
Bafana should not take Liberia lightly
“There are two tough games waiting for us,” Broos told reporters in Johannesburg on Monday. “The efforts Liberia have put in in the last months shows their ambition. They have prepared a stadium that conforms to FIFA rules. The foreign-based players also want to play again for their team which was not the case before. And there is a rumour that they will get an enormous bonus if they qualify for the Afcon. They will be motivated so it is up to us not to underestimate them. We have more quality than them, that is not a guarantee that we are going to win but it is an advantage that we have. We are confident, we had four good (friendly) games in September and November.”
Bafana or Liberia to qualify in Zimbabwe’s absence
With Zimbabwe banned by FIFA and disqualified from qualifying for Afcon, either Bafana or Liberia will qualify if they are to win both matches in the coming days.
Sundowns players join the squad
Meanwhile, Broos was elated that Mamelodi Sundowns’ stars arrived early on Monday morning, a day later than the rest of the players, after they played against Al Hilal in the CAF Champions League in Sudan on Saturday. The 70-year-old called up eight Sundowns players for the crucial matches – Ronwen Williams, Thapelo Morena, Grant Kekana, Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane and Cassius Mailula.
Professional attitude of Sundowns players
“Sundowns players only got back yesterday from their trip to Sudan, and we could welcome them today (Monday) before breakfast,” he said. “I am very happy with that; it shows that they like to come to the national team and that they have a very professional attitude. In the past it has been a bit different but we were happy to see them and that they were able to have breakfast with the team.”
Fixtures and where to watch
South Africa host the West African nation on Friday, 24 March (18:00) at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, and play again four days later on Tuesday, 28 March (18:00 SA time) in the Liberian capital of Monrovia.
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Credit: https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/bafanabafana/bafana-coach-wary-of-enormous-bonus-spurring-on-liberia-in-afcon-qualifiers-20230321
