Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund is determined to get the whole nation to rally behind Bafana Bafana as the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations draws nearer.
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Football411 was in attendance at Thursday's press conference in Cape Town ahead of Tuesday's friendly international match against Norway.
The four-time PSL title-winning coach is famous for his ability to unite teams and motivate players, and he is hoping to do the same in his first tournament as national team head coach.
"This is our moment for the players to put themselves in the history books and to give the nation something to celebrate about," he told reporters.
"I just want the whole of South Africa to understand how important it is for Bafana to have the support of everyone.
"People don't always realise the power of playing on home soil. If you have a passionate 60 000, 70 000 people behind you, blowing their vuvuzelas. Automatically the players are just so motivated," said the former Moroka Swallows coach.
South Africa's first test at AFCON will be their opening match against Cape Verde at the National Stadium (Soccer City) on January 19, a game Igesund says is a must-win encounter.
"We have got to win our first game, that is very important. It gives us three points, and it gets the nation behind us," the coach said.
"A team like Cape Verde is a very good side who people are underestimating. I've watched a lot of their players playing for their clubs and they are very good, very physical. You don't beat Cameroon by three goals if you can't play."
For now, the focus is on Tuesday's clash with Norway at the Cape Town Stadium; a game which Igesund feels will serve as good preparation.
"It's turned out to be a blessing in disguise," said Igesund when asked if he would have preferred to play against African opposition.
"Our opposition, Morocco, play a very European style of football, and so does Cape Verde - 21 of their 23 players are in Europe."
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