Furman eager to see end to Cup hoodoo

DEAN Furman was part of the Bafana Bafana team that failed to qualify for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil and the midfielder does not want to endure that kind of pain and embarrassment again.

The SuperSport United captain says they cannot make any excuses this time round, as Bafana’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign begins with a tricky first leg playoff clash against Angola at Ombaka National Stadium in Benguela tomorrow (4.30pm SA time).

Bafana have not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 in Korea-Japan, before hosting the competition in 2010 and becoming the first hosts to get knocked out in the first round.

Angola, whose one and only appearance at the World Cup was in 2006 in Germany, showed just how much of a threat they can be when they narrowly lost 2-1 in a friendly international against Bafana in July in Cape Town.

In that game, Palancas Negras opened the scoring before Bafana launched a comeback, but not without a fight from their opponents who almost scored a late goal.

“It’s a huge game for us. There’s no easy opposition in Africa. It’s always tough going away from home,” said Furman.

“We know the importance of being at the World Cup. We were bitterly disappointed not to qualify last time. We know that we have to win this playoff match and get into the group phase of the qualifiers.

“For us the World Cup is everything. We have to make sure we are there. There’s no excuses.”

Furman has been encouraged by Bafa form in recent months, the team getting wins in friendly matches against Angola, Senegal and Costa Rica.

However, they have not won competitive matches, drawing with Gambia and losing to Mauritania in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

“Over the last couple of months our form has been terrific. Some of the performances we have put in during the friendly matches have been great. We are working very hard to impress the coach.”

Bafana landed in Benguela after an eight-hour trip. After having two training sessions yesterday, they will have their last training session at the match venue today before their clash tomorrow.

“Every time we play for our country there is pressure, whether it’s a friendly or a qualifier. We know the nation is desperate for a win. We want to come back with a positive result and finish the job off in front of a packed crowd in Durban [on Tuesday],” said Furman.

Furman is likely to start in midfield alongside Andile Jali and also wear the captain’s armband in the absence of injured goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.