Pretoria - Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune, remains focused and hard at work preparing for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"I'm working hard just like any other player who wants to be in the final squad. What makes the challenge even more exciting is that we are all in great shape as we were all in Brazil for the training camp.
"There is no time to relax, more so because there are also other good goalkeepers who have been left out of this training camp," he said, speaking from the team's training camp at the Adidas technical centre in Germany.
The Kaizer Chiefs goalie said competition in the national team is very high. He is currently competing with two other goalkeepers, Maritzburg United's Shu-Aib Walters and Moeneeb Josephs from Orlando Pirates.
Regarding the cold German weather, Khune said: "Well, let's look at it as our way of acclimatising to the cold conditions that we will come across during the World Cup in June, so there is really nothing to worry about."
The Bafana training camp in Germany kicked off on Wednesday. The players were taken through their paces starting off in the gymnasium in the morning, finishing off on the field in the afternoon.
Physical trainer Francisco Gonzalez led the gym session. He said the team was focusing on its intensity, volume of work and speed.
"On the first day we don't start too strong because the main idea is for players to adapt to the routine, but what's happening here in Germany is the continuation of our work in Brazil where we started with basic training.
"We have a short time here in Germany so everybody needs to work hard until the start of the tournament, but at the same time we can't push them too hard because we want them to peak at the right time," he said.
Of the 25 players selected for the camp, only two new players were selected; veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvete and Katlego Mashego, and Gonzalez is not fazed about their level of fitness.
"The two players are doing well because they are in good condition. I spoke to the Moroka Swallows physical trainer and he told me that Nomvete was working very hard so they are both in good shape," he said.
