Bafana Bafana striker, Bernard ‘Hond’ Parker believes that self-belief will be important going to the crucial World Cup qualifier against Botswana at Moses Mabhida on Saturday, 7 September 2013.

Bafana Bafana are occupying second place in group standings with eight points while group leaders Ethiopia are on 10 points. Botswana also stands a chance of qualifying for the second phase in the qualifiers with seven points.

“It is important that we believe in ourselves going to this game and even the Coach, Gordon Igesund has stressed this to the group.

“The Coach expressed his belief in us which is important for the players,” continued Bernard Parker.

“The mood in the camp has been good and the players are buzzing at training. The competition is fierce and no one is guaranteed a place in the team.

“I would, of course, like to start and help the team, but it is all up to the Coach because there are good players in the team.

Speaking to the latest edition of Amakhosi magazine where he is a cover star, Bernard Parker opened up about the own goal he scored in the last World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia back in June (Parker also scored for Bafana Bafana in the same game)

“It is an indescribable feeling,” he said.

“It was the first own goal I had ever scored for any team I have played for and I cannot even describe how horrible it felt.

Parker insisted that he has since moved on from that incident; “I am focused on helping us win the game on Saturday and so are my teammates. We know how important it is for us to get the result and that result between Central African Republic versus Ethiopia favours us.