South Africa can expect no favours from neighbours Zimbabwe when the two countries meet in Durban in the World Cup qualifiers later this month, said Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees.
Bafaan Bafana need victory in the match on 10 October to keep up their hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in North America.
The match is at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, despite it being a home game for Zimbabwe because they do not have a venue that is up to international standard.
Moving the game to Durban is a massive bonus for South Africa, but that is where any favours end, Nees insisted.
He said Zimbabwe had to try and win their last two fixtures in group C, even if they have no chance of qualifying, as they sit at the bottom of the standings.
“We have a massive responsibility to be fair sportsmen, fair competitors, and to bring our best on the pitch in the first game and in the second game also. It’s our duty as sportsmen,” said Nees.
TIGHT GROUP
“We cannot just experiment here and there because this would be almost interpreted as unfair competition, and we cannot afford that. Fifa is looking at us.
“Also, the group is so tight - it could be that in the final game, four teams are separated only by one goal. Imagine! So we are responsible for the situation we find ourselves in, but others are responsible for their own situations. This is football.
“Especially against South Africa, there’s a lot at stake. We want to represent the country with pride and patriotism and in the best possible way, against one of the top five teams in Africa. And it will be a full house, packed,” Nees said.
“Bear in mind, we have one objective. We want to perform well at the Afcon. We want to go to the second round for the first time and then see how far it can carry us.
“That’s our objective, like any other team in the group. We are in a difficult group, no doubt, but we have good reasons to believe in ourselves,” the coach added.