AfricaNews sports desk
South Africa's goal poacher Katlego Mphela said he is not under any pressure to produce goals for the 2010 World Cup host. The Mamelodi Sundowns forward said he is poised to handle the role as the lead striker and ready for the global showpiece starting Friday against Mexico.
"It does put a bit of pressure on my shoulders but I can handle it," he told Reuters.
He added: "The coach (Carlos Alberto Perreira) plays me each game which means he has faith in me and believes in me.
"It is up to me now to try and believe in myself and get more goals.
"I am feeling a lot more confident especially scoring right now before the World Cup. It has come at the right moment."
The 25-year-old who has hit the net four times in his last three outings noted: "This World Cup for us is going to be all about team work, it's not going to be about me or anyone else because we are not a team of Ronaldos or Ronaldinhos."
"Key for us is we have been training together for the last three months. The other teams have only just started preparing, two weeks before the World Cup.
"Fitness will be a key point for us. I have lost five kilos since the camp started, I'm in the best shape of my career," added Mphela.
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