Lefa - 'We need to redeem ourselves'

Bafana Bafana and Moroka Swallows midfielder Lefa Tsutsulupa is hoping that the South African national team will use this weekend's COSAFA Cup games in Botswana to redeem their tarnished image.

South Africa will take on Swaziland in the first game on Saturday, whilst Botswana will face Madagascar in the second match. The winners of both matches will meet in the final on Sunday.

"We could not think of any [better] event to redeem Bafana's dented image than the COSAFA Cup games in Botswana," Tsutsulupa told The Sowetan.

He added: "We are going to fight for a win, not only against Swaziland but to also do well against the winner between Botswana and Madagascar.

"Our plan is to go all the way to the final and win it as a first step towards regaining the respect we used to enjoy two or three years ago."

He concluded: "I have no doubt that the team we're taking to Botswana will make us proud. The game against Lesotho last week helped to get us used to each other."

Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana caretaker coach Pitso Mosimane was unhappy about the fact that all six players from Mamelodi Sundowns did not turn up for training.

"Sundowns informed Barney Kujane [SAFA National Teams Director] that their players were still celebrating the Castle Premiership title victory," said Mosimane.

"There is nothing I can do, but you see for yourself that their absence disturbed our training sessions. We need everybody to start planning for the weekend's games," he added.