The South African national team, which will face Mexico on June 11 in the opening match of the World Cup, arrived on Tuesday in Pachuca, where it will set up camp at 2,459 meters above sea level.
Bafana Bafana, coached by Belgian Hugo Broos, were greeted by mariachis upon their arrival at the training hotel and, although tired from the 20-hour journey from Johannesburg, were in good spirits on Mexican soil.
From Pachuca to the Azteca
The team arrived in Mexico City at dawn on Tuesday.
He was immediately transferred by land to Pachuca, in the center of the country.
Escorted by the National Guard, they entered the city and minutes later were surprised by a warm welcome with traditional music.
As in the 2010 World Cup, South Africa and Mexico will play the opening match of the World Cup, this time at the Azteca stadium.
They drew 1-1 16 years ago and this time both teams will be going for the win, confident of making their place in Group A, in which Korea and the Czech Republic will also be playing.
The majority of the team’s members are members of South African Premier League teams.
Most of all from Mamelodi Sundowns, the ultimate title winner, which means they know each other well.
South African stars looking to surprise Mexico
Striker Lyle Foster of English side Burnley FC, midfielder Teboho Mokoena and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, both of Mamelodi, are three of the African side’s key players.
They will have a solid defense with players such as Ime Okon of Germany’s Hannover 96, Mbekezeli Mbokasi of the Chicago Fire and Olwethu Makhanya of the Philadelphia Union, both from MLS.
They showed good spirits on Mexican soil
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Although the World Cup opening match odds favor Mexico, the South Africans were the last African team to beat the Mexicans.
This is in the 2005 Gold Cup, and a close match is expected, in which the home team will have to play its best soccer to get three points.
South Africa enters the home stretch of its preparations
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Bafana Bafana will conduct a light training session today and tomorrow will hold a practice session open to the media at the Hidalgo Stadium.
After which they will be isolated at the Universidad del Futbol, whose first-class fields will allow the team to complete the last part of their preparation in the best possible way.
On May 29, South Africa played to a goalless draw in Johannesburg against Nicaragua.
This was a friendly match that Broos used to move his players around and observe their form.
After playing against Mexico, the South Africans will face the Czech Republic on June 18 in Atlanta and the Czech Republic on June 24 in Monterrey.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
