South Africa will face Sierra Leone in their third qualifier for the Fifa 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations. Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune will be in goal again, after having an excellent game against Equatorial Guinea last weekend.

It was also Khune’s third Bafana cap but the Sierra Leone encounter will be his first away game in goal for South Africa, but this does not make the 20-year-old nervous. “I don’t think like that,” Khune reacts, “my mind is fully concentrated on the game at hand.”

The Chiefs keeper did not play in South Africa’s first qualifier against Nigeria due to suffering from breathing problems on the eve of the match, which was probably flu related. “I was still not feeling 100 percent before the Equatorial Guinea match,” Khune reflects, “but I am fine now.”

The keeper stresses that it will be a tough match on Saturday but believes that the defence has developed a solid understanding with each other. “I have full confidence in my backline and we communicate well,” adds Khune. “Bevan Fransman and Aaron Mokoena listen to my instructions and I listen to them.”

Fransman will be out for the encounter against Sierra Leone and will be probably be replaced by SuperSport United defender Bongani Khumalo. “I know Bongani from playing with him with Amaglug-glug,” comments the keeper. “We communicate well with each other.”

Bafana captain, Aaron Mokoena, is also injured and, although he is traveling to Sierra Leone, could miss the encounter. Possible replacements for Mokoena are Robyn Johannes and Amakhosi’s Mokete Tsotetsi.

Chiefs midfielder Gerald Sibeko will not travel to West Africa due to a thigh injury, but he will report back to the Bafana camp on Monday ahead of the return game against Sierra Leone next weekend.

Siphiwe Tshabalala will hopefully be back on the bench after the talented winger was surprisingly relegated to the stands for the match against Equatorial Guinea.