Dikgacoi: Parreira knows what I am capable of (News Feature)

By Peter Auf der Heyde May 14, 2010, 5:31 GMT

Hamburg - For a player who was - less than a year ago - plucked from the obscurity of playing for Lamontville Golden Arrows in South Africa's top flight, Kagisho Dikgacoi has achieved a lot.

Although his career with English Premier League club Fulham had a slow start, due to a red card he received in his first game and niggling injuries, the midfielder has caught up fast and has featured prominently in the club's Premier League campaign.

On Wednesday, Dikgacoi added a Europa League medal to his collection and even though it was a losers' medal after the English side were beaten 2-1 by Atletico Madrid in the Hamburg final. , Dikgacoi was an unused substitute for Wednesday's game, but is more than happy with the way things have progressed.

'Of course I am disappointed that we lost, but I have to give credit to Atletico Madrid, who did well. I am very happy what I have achieved in my first season in Europe,' said Dikgacoi.

While for some of his Fulham team-mates their season has come to an end with the defeat, Dikgacoi is among several others in line to play at the World Cup finals.

'I am confident that I will make the South African squad for the final. The coach picks the side, of course, but Carlos Aberto Parreira knows what I am capable of,' he said.

'I have been doing well and I think I should be in the squad.'

Placed into Group A, where they will be facing Mexico, Uruguay and France, South Africa is widely expected to struggle to advance into the next round.

But Dikgacoi, who has scored two goals in his 30 games for Bafana Bafana, is confident that they have a chance.

'People expect a lot from us. We are the host nation and will have the whole country behind us. That must count for something and I do not think we have to be scared of our opponents.

'We have to respect them, but there is no reason why we should be nervous,' he said.

South Africa's second game against Uruguay will offer the midfielder an opportunity to pay Atletico's Diego Forlan back for the two goals he scored in the Europa League final.

But Dikgacoi said he will not tell his defenders anything special about the striker.

'We know that Uruguay is a strong and difficult opponent. They do not need to be told that Forlan is a good player, they know that by themselves,' he said.

We need to be aware of all our opponents and if we respect them, but not fear them, we will stand a chance.'

Dikgacoi was due to arrive in South Africa on Friday to join his team-mates in the training camp for the June 11-July 11 finals.

And turning out for the hosts at the World Cup finals will provide Dikgacoi with an opportunity to put aside the disappointment of having lost the Europe League final and give him the chance of giving it back to the man who caused Fulham's downfall in Hamburg.