‘We gave the match to Zambia’ - Perreira

By Fred Kaweesi

“INTERNATIONAL players do not make such mistakes. We just gave the match to them (Zambia),” was South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s verdict after watching his so-called star-studded side collapse to a humiliating 3-1 defeat to Zambia.

Bafana Bafana’s defeat at Newlands Stadium on Sunday meant South Africa, the Cranes’ would-be-guarantors for possible qualification, progressed to the 2008 Nations Cup finals alongside COSAFA counterparts Zambia at the expense of Uganda.

In a particularly scathing attack on a team he took charge of last year, South African publication Die Burger quoted Parreira as saying: “One needed balls to play this game. It was a nightmare start for us. We did not concentrate. We lost focus.”

Parreira, who according to Kick-off Magazine is reported to have thrown bottles and chairs in the dressing room, added: “It’s the first time in my life that I have lost a home match by such a margin. I never experienced such a defeat when I coached Brazil,” he ranted, before adding, “I have never lost a match in such a manner.”

The Cape Argus was saddened for striker Benni McCarthy’s fate.

“I am only sorry that Benni’s return coincided with our worst performance.”

The Cape Times daily main headline read, “Unthinkable Day For Bafana Bafana”, while The Dispatch screamed: “The unthinkable Has Happened”.

The Mail and Guardian quoted Parreira as saying: “It was a disaster.”