SA’s team spirit back to normal after loss
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s team spirit is “back to normal” despite the deflating 3-0 loss to Uruguay in Group A, according to midfielder
Teko Modise.
Modise said yesterday that there was tension on the team bus after Wednesday’s game, but that the bad mood dissipated quickly.
“On the next day, we started to talk about France and about the confidence we need to have in our game,” Modise said. “Now everybody’s happy and back to his normal self.”
Modise said that his team would strive to show a good effort in Tuesday’s match against France, even if South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the next round are slim.
“We need to do our best and hope a miracle happens on the other side,” Modise said about the other Group A match, where a draw will put both Uruguay and Mexico into the next round. “For us it’s about honour, we really want to do well against France.
“It’s one of those games people will remember us by. We want to win the game but if it doesn’t happen, at least we held our heads high.”
Modise said he did not blame the vuvuzela-blaring Bafana Bafana fans for losing hope and leaving early in the game against Uruguay because the team was just as discouraged by the outcome.