Reneilwe Letsholonyane is confident that the current Bafana Bafana can stand up and be counted when they take five times world cup champions, Brazil in Sao Paulo on Friday, 07 September 2012.

Matches between the two sides have always been close. The Samba boys were forced to come from two goals down back in 1996 the first time the two sides met at Soccer City as a result of the inspired performance from the legend, Doctor Khumalo.

During that game Brazil came back from behind to win the game 3-2 after Doctor was substituted. Clive Barker admitted years later that he made a mistake by substituting the midfield maestro.

The current Brazil team like the Class of 1996 brims of talent with the likes of sensation, Neymar, Thiago Silva, Marcelo and others but Reneilwe Letsholonyane who watched Bafana Bafana losing to Brazil in the 88th minute at Ellis Park back in 2009 believes they can match Brazil in their own backyard.

“We are playing against a very good team in Brazil. It is even tougher that we are playing them in their own backyard but I am sure we can match them. Games between the two countries over the years have been close affairs and we are up to the challenge,” said the player affectionately known as ‘Yeye’.

Letsholonyane said the players all want to do well and give new Head Coach, Gordon Igesund a positive start; “We are happy to be in the national team and want to give our best for the country. This is a new era and as players we are quite aware how important this game is in our preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in October and then competing in 2013 African Cup of Nations in our home soil in 2013.

Meanwhile Siphiwe Tshabalala believes that the game against Brazil is going to give Bafana Bafana indications of where they are as the team; “It is a good test for us for sure. We are playing against one of the best teams in the world but we have our own objectives coming here with qualifiers and Nations Cup 2013 ahead of us, so this game is going to give the Technical Team and players an indication of how far are we with our preparations.

Kickoff for the game is at 20:45 (South African time).

Previous Meetings between the two countries

At Soccer City, 24 April 1996


South Africa 2 Brazil 3

At Ellis Park, 07 December 1997


South Africa 1 Brazil 2

At Ellis Park, 25 June 2009


South Africa 0 Brazil 1