What is your initial reaction to Themba Zwane’s suspension being extended to three games?
“I think the red card was excessive. I saw back the video, and I don't think it was a red card. When I see what happened yesterday with Messi, then I don't agree, certainly not. When you see the situation, the Mexican player blocked my player, and Themba tried to get over him, and he put his arm over his shoulder. That's all he does. He didn't do that. And you get a red card for that, and then a three-game suspension? Sorry, but this is much, much, much too severe. I don't want that Messi gets a red card, because that player has to be on the pitch as you saw yesterday, but what was the difference then? So, when I'm a little bit frustrated by that.”
Will you appeal Zwane’s suspension?
“Yes, we will.”
What is your take on the situation Bafana find themselves in?
“I think our situation is clear. If we don’t win tomorrow, we play our last game against South Korea for nothing. This is something we must avoid. We know the mistakes we made in the first game, and some people said the coach is too soft on his players, but I don't like to blame my players in front of a camera. So sometimes you have to lie a little bit as a coach. And that's what I did. So we know what went wrong with the game against Mexico, and we will try to improve that tomorrow, but if we can only improve when we have the ball, then I think we have a chance to win the game.”
What about the criticism of your defensive approach to the game against Mexico?
“I’ve been a coach for 40 years and I know it’s a part of the job that you will be criticised. So for the moment, I’m criticised, but people have to know … and for those who still don’t know it … I do it my way. I never listen to the trash of social media. I never listen to people who feel they are important enough to criticise the team (ex-players who are pundits). When I look back at what they achieved before, I think it should be better that they shut up. I know what went wrong against Mexico. The players know it, and that's the most important thing, and for the rest, I will do it my way. If tomorrow the critics want this one or another one in the team and I don't agree, they will not play. You know, this is part of my job. I know that when you lose, you will get criticised, and when you win, you are the king. Eight months ago, when we qualified for the World Cup against Rwanda at home, there was somebody who came to me, and they said, ‘Coach, I have to make a statue for you in South Africa’. I told him, I said, ‘Make it in wood so it will burn easily when I lose’. And that happens now. I try to do my job as good as possible, and I try to have a team tomorrow on the pitch that will be fighting for 90 minutes. And we will try, if we lose, that we can leave the pitch proudly, because we did everything we could.”
Can you give us some insight into what sort of tactical approach you will take against the Czechs?
“No”
When you say tomorrow is a do-or-die game, but you could still go through in third place if you get a point tomorrow and you beat South Korea. Do you really think tomorrow is definitely the one that you have to win?
“Yeah, it's a very important game tomorrow. So if we don't win, we have still a chance, but if we lose, then it will be a calculation of what happens in the other groups. Then it is out of our hands. So again, it's very decisive for me. If we lose, I think it will be very difficult, even with the option of qualifying in third place.”