JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Siphiwe Tshabalala says hosts South Africa can look forward to the second round of the World Cup if they defeat Uruguay in Pretoria Wednesday.

The diminutive wide midfielder scored the first goal of the 2010 tournament last Friday as Bafana Bafana (The Boys) bridged a 66-place ranking gap by holding Mexico 1-1 at Soccer City.

It was a goal worthy of winning the final as he controlled a pass, burst forward and unleashed an unstoppable cross shot that gave Oscar Perez no chance.

Shy Tshabalala is now the talk of a football-obsessed nation just 12 months after battling to make the starting line-up at Kaizer Chiefs, the best supported football club in the country.

“A win against Uruguay will virtually seal our passage into the second round and make the nation even prouder,” Tshabalala told reporters after a training session.

Former champions Uruguay and France also have one point after the first series of Group A matches following a 0-0 Cape Town draw that never reached great heights.

“Uruguay will be in trouble if we carry on where we left off against the Mexicans,” said Tshabalala, referring to a much-improved second half Bafana performance.

The midfielder credited coach Carlos Alberto Parreira for his remarkable turnaround in fortunes, saying the Brazilian grandfather had given him confidence.

“My form has improved so much since the coach returned last November and took us to Brazil and Germany for training camps. My fitness has never been greater, nor my self belief.”

But the star said media talk of a transfer to Europe fuelled by comments from Chiefs founder Kaizer Motaung was premature and his mind was focused only on the World Cup.

“I am not thinking about my future at club level. I am enjoying every moment of my first World Cup and all that counts now is victory over Uruguay,” he stressed.

Centreback Bongani Khumalo, who endured a torrid first 45 minutes against a livewire Mexican attack, said the thought of facing star Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was inspiring rather than haunting him.

“Diego is a world-class footballer, but the whole point of playing in this tournament is to test yourself against the best,” explained the defender who plays for national champions SuperSport United.

“The nerves we suffered against Mexico because of the special occasion have settled and there is no fear of Forlan nor Uruguay,” he said of a country that won 4-3 and drew 0-0 in previous clashes with South Africa.

South Africa and Uruguay clash at Loftus Versfeld, the 50,000-seat Pretoria home of Super 14 rugby union champions Northern Bulls, while France face Mexico the following evening in northern city Polokwane.