South Africa cricket captain AB de Villiers has shrugged off comments by the country's sports minister ordering the Proteas not to become a bunch of losers.
South Africa captain AB de Villiers Photo: Photosport
Fikile Mbalula issued the warning to the team at a function at a Johannesburg shopping complex.
"We don't want you in the World Cup to add numbers and just become a bunch of losers. You are not going to be playing with robots, you are playing with people," he said.
De Villiers admitted there was plenty of pressure on the side back home, who were rightly regarded as one of the favourites for the upcoming World Cup.
"We're expected to come here and win the tournament so we understand that and obviously there's pressure that comes with comments like that, but we don't mind that - we're here to win," he said.
"He made some really good points as well, but that point we all looked at each other and went 'here we go'."
South Africa take on New Zealand in their final warmup game before the World Cup at Hagley Oval on Wednesday.