South African football coach happy with draw

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-23 22:46

JOHANNESBURG - Although the result was not well received in the South African media, South African national football coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was not dismayed by Bafana Bafana's goalless draw against DPR Korea on Thursday night.

On Friday the Times newspaper in Johannesburg said Parreira had "run out of ideas how to teach South Africans the simple art of goal scoring".

But the coach told Football365 he believed that the match helped his side find their rhythm.

DPR Korea are ranked 105, making them the only side in the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a lower ranking than South Africa's Bafana Bafana, who are 88th.

South Africa will host the FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 11.

Bafana's Katlego Mphela had the best chances in Thursday's game, but goalkeeper Ri Myung Guk was on hand to keep DPR Korea on level terms.

Despite the stalemate, Parreira was pleased with the friendly.

"This was a good test as it is crucial that my players face teams who have qualified for the World Cup. We need games like this to develop our rhythm," he told Football365.

On April 28 Bafana will play China, who are ranked 84th.