Bafana Bafana 2008-09

[Fern9do]

Seeing that there's one for the club's lets use this thread to keep track of our national team over the coming season.

We're playing the Aussies next week Tuesday but Not off to the best of starts....:o



Just when Joel Santana thought that things could not get any worse for the National team he has been dealt a double blow ahead of Bafana Bafana's match with Australia on next Tuesday.

Australia named their team last week already but with Santana only returning to South Africa from his holiday this weekend there has not been any word from SAFA on the possible Bafana team. Santana will also have to deal with the fact that Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar won't be available, as he is out for about six weeks amid fears he has suffered a broken metatarsal in his right foot.



Then there is also the little matter of the MTN 8 tournament that clashes with Bafana Bafana's departure date and as it is not compulsory for club's to release their players, if the player's do go they will only fly to London on Sunday.

According to kick off.com Bafana's team manager did not even know about the clash in arrangements.

"Bafana manager Sipho Nkumane was taken by surprise when KickOff.com tackled him about this clash of arrangements between the PSL and Safa.

“I never knew that semifinal fixture will clash with our departure on Saturday. At this stage I prefer not make any comment until after our meeting with the Bafana Bafana technical team at 2pm this afternoon." They reported on their website.



Another headache for Santana will be whether or not to risk calling up Benni McCarthy. It remains to be seen whether Santana will call Benni McCarthy especially after his interview three weeks ago where he labled the state that Bafana find themselves in as "shameful". With the goal drought suffered by the national team of late, leaving out McCarthy would not be a wise decision.
http://www.safootballfans.co.za/the-national-team/42-the-national-team/222-more-problems-for-bafana.html

[The_Traveller]

Australia will be a very good test for them.

[Fern9do]

Santana Announces Bafana Squad to face Australia


Wednesday, 13 August 2008 18:03

Joel Santana has announced his squad that will face Australia in a friendly next Tuesday.

The coach said that his selection will allow players to gain a high level experience by playing against strong International opposition.



“This game will also afford me a chance to see the Players in a game situation as I have only just come into the Team and need to understand how each Player responds in a game situation.


Unlike at club level, at national level you don't have the luxury of having your Players day in and day out. For instance, this is a short camp with only two limited training sessions. My Players come from different parts of the world and from all corners of the country, and will leave immediately afterward.

So, one therefore, has to improvise on the given circumstances, but we must remain focused that our main objective is to deliver a world class team for the 2010 World Cup. Our pyramid scheme, which was started by my predecessor, Carlos Parreira and approved by SAFA, must not be dismantled as it is the best model for this country,” said Santana.



The Coach says he will continue to use this year to check out players as part of the 2007 and 2008 strategy to identify and build a base of players. Santana reveals that at the end of this year the identification exercise will end and he will immediately start working on the possible Team for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
“We have to merge all the hard work put together in the past 16 months to produce a Team for 2010. The 2010 African Cup of Nations qualifiers are therefore important for us, just as all the Friendly Games are,” says Coach Santana.


The South African Squad


Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)
Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders:
Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England)
Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United)
Nazeer Allie (Ajax Cape Town)
Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos, Greece)
Nasief Morris (Recreativo de Huelva, Spain)
Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel)
Bradley Carnell (Karlsruhe, Germany)
Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders:
Lance Davids (Djurgardens, Sweden)
Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia)
Thulasizwe Mbuyane (Orlando Pirates)
Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates)
Matthew Pattison (Norwich City, England)
Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows)
Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany)
Lefa Tsutsulupa (Moroka Swallows)
Dean Furman (Rangers, Scotland)
Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)

Strikers:
Sibusiso Zuma (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England)

Kick Off time: at 9pm SA Time.
Venue: Loftus Road, London.
http://www.safootballfans.co.za/the-national-team/42-the-national-team/224-santana-announces-bafana-squad-to-face-australia.html

[Fuma]

Is Matthew Pattison eligible to play for Bafana Bafana though?
I thought he already played for England youth squad?
Do you know Dean Furman? I haven't seen him play!

[Fern9do]

Not sure about attison but I guess he knows he got no chance of making the England squad anytime soon.
I refuse to watch Rangers play so no I haven't seen Furman in action yet.

Must say I'm delighted for Nazeer Allie:)
We were in the same class on high school and we used to play soccer together(with a tennis ball) during lunch breaks:D

He really deserves it though. And Tsutsulupa

[Fuma]

Yep they both deserve to be in the squad.
But I'm afraid they might be dropped again (for what ever reason).

[Fern9do]

Carlos Parreira set for Bafana Return

Former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira looks set to return to the National team set-up according to reports today in The Sunday Times.

The paper claims that the Brazilian will return as Technical adviser to the National team and Parreira confirmed this. Speaking from Reo de Janeiro the coach said that a deal with SAFA has been agreed in principle.


"We agreed on the idea in principle. If they want me to do this job, I don't see a problem coming to help," he said.

"It is up to them to make the next move. I am not taking any job until December. I told them I would agree on the idea with no fixed salary, but (to) only get paid for the work which I do.


"There has to be a final agreement. (South African Football Association chief executive) Raymond Hack keeps in touch. They want to develop the idea."

The World Cup winning coach quit as Bafana coach four months ago after his wife fell ill but says that she is doing okay now.

"She is okay now, thank God. She is living a normal life with some precautions," he said.



"With regard to her cancer, she had the choice to either have the breast removed or to undergo chemotherapy. She felt it was more safe to remove it. She has to have a check-up every six months."
http://www.safootballfans.co.za/the-national-team/42-the-national-team/238-carlos-parriera-set-for-bafana-return.html

[Fern9do]

South Africa 2 - 2 Australia

Bafana Bafana and Australia played to a 2 all draw in London last night thanks to some brilliant football by Benni McCarthy and the boys. The Blackburn striker was back in the team again and showed his quality by setting up both of Bafana's goals against the socerroos.

Australia were the better team in the first half but it was South africa who opened the scoring through Siyabonga Nkosi who slotted the ball past Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer after a brilliant back heel from McCarthy sent him through on goal.



South Africa's lead only lasted a few minutes though as Australia equalised in the 25th minute when Mile Sterjovski cleverly chipped the ball over the on-rushing Khune.

Australia came close to extending their lead and did just that in the 38th minute when Josh Kennedy scored from Bresciano's free kick in the 38th minute, out jumping Khune, who was not having the best of games in goal for Bafana.



Bafana started the second half better and were playing some sublime one touch football, and Sibaya tried his luck from long range but missed the target. South Africa were back in the game in the 58th thanks to a moment of brilliance from benni mccarthy and Teko modise. McCarthy recieved close to Australias corner flag and with two defenders around him he beat both with clever footwork and released the ball to Bryce Moon with a back heel, Moon then slipped the ball to Modise who fired an unstoppable shot from just inside the box that flew into the roof of Schwartzer's net to make it 2-2.



Both teams had a few half chances in the dieing moments of the match but the matched finnished 2 -2.

Santana will take some positives from this result ahead of the clash against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Port Elizabeth on September 6 when there are points at stake in the penultimate Group Four AFCON qualifier.
http://www.safootballfans.co.za/the-national-team/42-the-national-team/243-south-africa-2-2-australia.html

[Fuma]

It wasn't a bad game at all. Just that I don't know why we still have Aron Mokoena. I never liked that guy.

[JK8]

I enjoyed the game, was very fast and entertaining!
Benni proves to be the key player once again!:)

[Fern9do]

I also enjoyed the game. Second half we played some great football:)
Benni was like a man on a mission last night. If all our players could just play that way then we would be in a much better position now.

I think Mokoena is okay(not great but ok) Heita but Sibayah I dont rate at all.

next up...Nigeria:o

[Fuma]

I also enjoyed the game. Second half we played some great football:)
Benni was like a man on a mission last night. If all our players could just play that way then we would be in a much better position now.

I think Mokoena is okay(not great but ok) Heita but Sibayah I dont rate at all.

next up...Nigeria:o

I don't rate both of them. I mean they've been there forever and we know what to expect from them.

Tsutsulupa will take Sibaya's position in the future - if age is on his side that is.

[Fern9do]

Benni to Lead Bafana against Nigeria

Joel Santana has appointed Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy as captain for the match against Nigeria in the absence of skipper Aaron Mokoena. In what may prove to be Santana's most important match since he took over from Carlos Parreira, the coach made a bold decision to appoint the temperamental striker as captain after various media reports claiming that the striker was unfit and overweight.



McCarthy denied these reports in midweek.

"I do not take notice of talk about me being overweight and unfit,"

"I have not been playing regularly at Rovers and may not be fully match fit, but I am willing to play my heart out against Nigeria." he said.



Bafana must win this match if they are to maintain any hope of qualifying for the African Cup of Nations to be held in Angola in 2010 but their fate s not in their own hands. Should Equatorial Guinea lose against Sierra Leone in the groups other fixture.

According to the Pretoria Newspaper Indications are Santana will employ the usual 4-5-1 formation with Nasief Morris and Mbulelo Mabizela mustering the defence against the marauding West Africans, whose attack will be led by Everton forward Aiyegbeni Yakubu and John Utaka.


"The two are sure to give Bafana's rearguard a tough time and mistakes by the home side could be punished severely.

Bafana will look to star striker McCarthy, who might play alone upfront with Siyabonga Nkosi coming up from the middle to test the visitors. Bafana's dream of beating Nigeria this afternoon might not be far fetched as the men from Lagos look a bit shaky in the absence of regulars N****wo Kanu, Obafemi Matins, John Obi-Mikel and Joseph Yobo." the paper wrote.



Bafana will be missing three key players for the clash with Rowen Fernandez and Steven Pienaar injured, while captain Aaron Mokoena is suspended.


Bafana Squad:



Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates)



Defenders: Matthew Booth (Krylya Sovetov, Russia), Bradley Carnell ( Karlsruhe, Germany,) Siboniso Gaxa, Mbulelo Mabizela (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos, Greece), Nasief Morris (Recreativo de Huelva, Spain)



Midfielders: Lance Davids (Djurgardens, Sweden), Kagiso Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Thulasizwe Mbuyane, Teko Modise, Lebogang Mothibantwa (all Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Sundowns) Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs), Lefa Tsutsulupa (Moroka Swallows).



Strikers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England), Subusiso Zuma (Sundowns).





Nigerian Squad:

Goalkeepers: Greg Etafia (Moroko Swallows, South Africa), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel)



Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Olympique Marseille, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Obinna Nwaneri (FC Sion, Switzerland), Daniel Ola (Cesena, Italy), Yusuf Mohamed (Hilal, Sudan)



Midfielders: Seyi Olofinjana (Stoke City, England), Lukman Haruna (AC Monaco, France), Kalu Uche (UD Almeria, Spain), Christian Obodo (Udinese, Italy)



Forwards: Yakubu Aiyegbeni (Everton, England), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England), Joseph Akpala (Charleroi Sporting, Belgium) Ike Uche (Getafe, Spain)



Match will be broadcast live on SABC 1 @ 2:30 pm
http://www.safootballfans.co.za/the-national-team/42-the-national-team/268-benni-to-lead-bafana-against-nigeria.html

[Fern9do]

South Africa Fail to Qualify for AFCON

South Africa will not be going to The African Cup Of Nations in 2010!

Bafana Bafana failed in their attempt at qualifying for the African Cup Of Nations(AFCON) that is to be held in Angola in 2010, after suffering a disappointing 1 - 0 defeat to Nigeria. South Africa's chances of qualifying were already slim before the match started and needed at least a victory against the Super Eagles to maintain any hope of qualifying but they could not beat the Nigerians.



South Africa dominated large parts of the match and created plenty of chances but could not convert any of them thanks to poor finishing, good goalkeeping and last ditch tackles from the Nigerian Defense. Nigeria did not create too many chances but took the lead in the 71st minute thanks to a brilliant finish from Ikechukwu Uche who twisted the South African defense inside out before firing a low shot past Khune.



News24 Match Report (http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Soccer/0,,2-9-840_2389383,00.html)
http://www.safootballfans.co.za/the-national-team/42-the-national-team/269-south-africa-fail-to-qualify-for-afcon.html

[.geek]

As expected.

[SuPaStA]

A World Cup host nation has always gone past the group stages in the cup.I think South Africa will be the first to get knocked out in the groups stages.

[JustGadgets]

A World Cup host nation has always gone past the group stages in the cup.I think South Africa will be the first to get knocked out in the groups stages.

I'll back you on that !:D