Paulo Duarte puzzled over Bafana struggles

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Thursday Oct 05, 2017. 16:00

Upon his arrival in South Africa, Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte says every team in Group D has a chance to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The Burkinabe manager says they have to win their next encounter against Bafana Bafana at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.

However, despite praising the hosts, he remains mystified as to why the 2010 FIFA World Cup hosts and the 1996 African champions fail to qualify for major tournaments.

“I say all the time that I don’t understand why South Africa do not have the results‚” the coach said to the Sowetan.

“You have so many good players but every time you don’t have qualification.

"If you have the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations in your home you play.

“If you ask me if the team today is better than five years ago I would tell you‚ ‘No’.

"But you have good players‚ good conditions‚ a good league.

“Burkina Faso have first place‚ but we have to win the next match. And the next match is against South Africa.”