Amakhosi goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez currently in camp with Bafana Bafana ahead of South Africa’s upcoming international friendly game against Namibia in Windhoek has described the mood in the team as upbeat and positive.

The Amakhosi number one is one of four Kaizer Chiefs players currently with the national team preparing for Wednesday evening’s friendly game against the Namibians. He left with the rest of the team at lunchtime on Tuesday for Windhoek. Fernandez who is currently battling it out with Mamelodi Sundowns keeper Calvin Marlin for the starting slot on Wednesday and is confident of obtaining a starting berth against Namibia.

“I am fairly confident that I will get to start on Wednesday night as I feel that I had a good pre season campaign and my form generally has been good. Based on the way I have been playing and the training we did at Chiefs over the past few weeks it won’t be a problem for me to start on Wednesday should the coach decide to play me.” added Rowen.

The Chiefs net minder who trained twice on Monday at the FNB Stadium with the national team under the guise of stand in Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, is upbeat about Bafana Bafana’s chances on Wednesday and believes that with the current positive atmosphere in the camp it can translate into victory for South Africa.

“We trained twice on Monday and during the sessions there was this positive energy, all the guys are working hard and it is as though there is this feeling that we are starting over, so let us get off to a winning start” added Rowen.

Rowen further commented “the spirit within the team is high and even with the PSL based players there is no such a thing as the Sundowns players and the Chiefs guys not getting on. At the moment we are all working as one in order to ensure that the national team can go from strength to strength, game by game, and that when we host the World Cup in 2010 we have a team that makes the nation proud”.

Although there are three other Chiefs players in The national team at the present time with him, Rowen has found himself sharing a room with a former Amakhosi player in the form of Bradley Carnell who left the Amakhosi in 1998.

Carnell presently plays in Germany for Karlsruher SC in the German second division, left Chiefs in 1998 to pursue a career in the German Bundesliga. Rowen and the other three Chiefs players who are Cyril Nzama, Gert Schalkwyk and Siyabonga Nkosi are expected to return to training on Friday, as Bafana Bafana are due back from Windhoek some time on Thursday.

Rowen Fernandez Bafana Bafana profile

Matches Played: 3


Starts: 2


Substitute Appearances: 1


Debut: Tunisia 0 South Africa 2, El Menzah Stadium, Tunis Tunisia 18th August 2004


Clean Sheets: 1


Goals Conceded: 3