Pompey were doomed to relegation from the Barclays Premier League when they were docked nine points for going into administration, so their players would be forgiven for saving themselves with an FA Cup final the only thing to play for.

Not Mokoena. He was carrying a groin injury after the semi-final victory over Tottenham but still played a week later, insisting getting as much game time as possible will have him in peak condition when his country host the world's biggest tournament.

"Everyone wants to play in an FA Cup final but that doesn't mean I had to reserve myself in other games," he said.

"Six or seven days is enough to recover between matches with the medical staff we have. They helped us a lot.

"Nobody wants to miss the World Cup - especially on my home soil. But that's me - I always want to get out there even if there is a little bit of a strain or some pain.

"I don't want to sit on the sidelines. I want to display my talent. That's the character I am. Some people are different. But I always want to get out there, I want to build confidence and have that match-fitness."

Mokoena, as captain of 'Bafana Bafana', will have the eyes of the nation on him when he leads the team out on June 11 against Mexico in Johannesburg.

Perhaps after a season battling the odds for Pompey he will be the perfect skipper for the hosts. There is a huge expectancy on them, despite failing to reach the African Nations Cup finals in Angola earlier this year and poor form leading into the tournament they are hosting.

"I think it's good to be underdogs," he said.

"I said before the Confederations Cup (last summer) not to write South Africa off and we surprised people then.

"I'm going to say exactly the same thing again. Don't write off Bafana Bafana before we've even kicked a ball. The important thing is that there is nothing impossible in life. Do you want to take the easy way out or do you really want to fight it through?"

Pompey spent the whole season battling, firstly against relegation and also against Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs trying to wind them up.

Despite their problems, they still provided that memorable day at Wembley when they were written off against Tottenham but produced a display that got them into the FA Cup final.

Mokoena played his part, marking Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe as a centre-back, rather than his usual defensive-midfield role.

"I must say it's been tough," he said.

"I'm sure a lot of people elsewhere wouldn't have coped with the situation that we've had.

"It's been a fantastic run for us and especially lately, because we know that it's the only thing we had after our points deduction and relegation from the Premier League.

"We needed the FA Cup more than anything and there's absolutely a parallel between Portsmouth and South Africa.

"It's exactly the same. We needed the FA Cup more than anything and South Africa need this World Cup more than anything."