Vuvuzela South Africa

The run-up to the Bafana Bafana Madagascar clash has been interesting. Coach Joel Santana called up an all-local squad and then three of the stars, Teko Modise, Frank Cale and Moeneeb Josephs had to be replaced because of injuries.

After the South African National Soccer Team’s “not-so-great” performance since the Confederations Cup, morale in the camp and among supporters has been slipping. We desperately need a win, even if it is over 131 ranked Madagascar.

Local Stars Have an Opportunity to Impress

For this friendly against Madagascar, head coach Joel Santana has selected a squad purely made up of local stars, with Siyanda Xulu, Rooi Mahamutsa, Ruben Cloete and Thanduyise Khuboni all handed a chance to shine for the first time.
The under-fire Brazilian coach surprised many people by including Gert Schalkwyk and Reneilwe Letsholonyane, who have not been playing regularly at their respective clubs.

But Injuries have taken out three of the stars in the form of Teko Modise, Frank Cale and Orlando Pirates Goalkeeper, Moeneeb Josephs.

Moeneeb Josephs Replaced by Darren Keet

Moeneeb Josephs has been replaced by 20-year-old Bidvest Wits stopper Darren Keet for Bafana’s friendly with Madagascar after injuring his right hand.

Keet will compete with SuperSport United’s Emille Barron for a start in the friendly against Madagascar to be played in Kimberley.

The youngster was also recently called-up to the national side for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, and will join up with Serame Letsoaka’s Amajita side after completing international duty with Bafana.

The withdrawal is a shame for Josephs, who has been in excellent form so far this season, helping Pirates to six clean-sheets in their opening six League matches, and who was unlucky to be overlooked for the Germany and Ireland matches.

Benson Mhlongo – Captain of Bafana Bafana

Santana is expected to name veteran Benson Mhlongo as captain for the match, where the Bafana squad.

National Football Team of Madagascar

The national football team of Madagascar, also called Barea is under the Fédération Malagasy de Football. It has participated in the Indian Ocean Games, COSAFA Cup, pre-World cup matches and African Nations Cup.

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There is just something about a vuvuzela! If you don’t get it, you probably never will, but those of us who are fans of the colorful stadium horns that South African soccer supporters use to encourage the players, cannot resist a new vuvuzela – even at a technology conference.

I am attending the annual GovTech conference at the Albert Luthuli ICC in Durban this week along with about 2000 other delegates from across the country (and world). Yip, I know, government and technology sounds like an oxymoron – but I am deeply impressed with the conference so far – not to say the least with the superb facilities and high standard of the ICC.

Anyway, in the Exhibition space, Torque IT – the technology skills factory is giving away these bright orange branded vuvuzelas. Well I rushed down as fast as my feet could carry me to get one, meeting this group of guys in the process.

You see here in South Africa a vuvuzela says something about you – it says you’re into soccer; you are getting ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup; you just like making a noise … or just you think vuvuzelas are really cool!

I guess I qualify on all counts.

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2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) Chief Executive Officer, Danny Jordaan and the body’s Chairman, Irvin Khoza go head-to-head in South African Football Association’s (Safa) presidential election race on 26 September.

As both Khoza and Jordaan are essential cogs in the wheel of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, FIFA President Sepp Blatter sent a letter to Safa urging them to postpone the election until after the World Cup, in order to keep things running smoothly.

Sepp Blatter Urged Safa to Postpone Till after 2010

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has on numerous occasions urged Safa and its president, Molefi Oliphant, to postpone the elections until after the 2010 World Cup.

Safa told Blatter the elections would go ahead as per their constitution, with a new president taking over from Oliphant, who is not seeking re-election. Valcke said FIFA will send its representatives to monitor the elections, which have already split the local soccer fraternity into two factions.

Danny Jordaan vs Irvin Khoza

As things stand, Local Organising Committee chairman Irvin Khoza and chief executive Danny Jordaan have emerged as strong contenders to replace Oliphant. Safa executive member Kirsten Nematendani has also been nominated by the Football Transformation Forum as their preferred candidate, along with Jordaan.

However the SAFA, (and the massive egos of those concerned) is firm on its decision to go ahead with the elections come what may in this race which is already sparking allegations of payoffs and kickbacks as two of the great men of local soccer battle for the top position.

FIFA has also taken a decision based on its constitution that whoever wins the elections will have to resign from their position on the LOC, which is another anomaly, because in the past this rule hasn’t applied to others in the same position.

SA Government Will Not Interfere

South African Government sports Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhenkesi Stofile, said government will not interfere since the election is a private matter among members of the association.

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South African Fans of English soccer can look forward to seeing their heroes in action here in 2010 as the English team has just booked its place in next year’s World Cup finals with an inspired 5 -1 win over Croatia. (Two goals each from Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard and one from Wayne Rooney).

England Qualified With 24 Points

England have qualified with 24 points from their eight games. Croatia is second on 17 with one more match to play. They are ahead of Ukraine on 15 points, who have two matches to play after drawing 0-0 with Belarus on Wednesday.

Ghana Qualifies for 2010 World Cup

Ghana has become the first African team, besides South Africa, to qualify for the 2010 World Cup  after a 2 -0 defeat of Sudan and Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac became the second man from that country -in succession- to take the Black Stars  to the World Cup. Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari scored the goals.

This past weekend Tunisia remained the top team in Group B as Nigeria failed to overcome the North Africans in Abuja.

Egypt and Cameroon both won away from home to keep alive their chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

France vs Serbia 1-1

Serbia moved to within three points of the World Cup on Wednesday with a 1-1 draw at home to France, whose hopes of automatic qualification remain alive after a brave 10-man showing.

A Quarter of Qualifiers for 2010 World Cup are Known

A quarter of the 32 qualifying nations for the first 2010 FIFA World Cup to be staged in South Africa are now known, with Ghana joining Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Netherlands, Korea DPR, Korea Republic and hosts South Africa.

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South Africa suffered their sixth consecutive defeat as they lost 1-0 to the Republic of Ireland in Limerick on Tuesday night. Despite dominating the game, Bafana Bafana was unable to find the back of the net against a second-string Irish outfit, who scored the only goal of the game through a great Liam Lawrence free kick.

Ireland, lying a point behind world champions Italy in qualifying group eight, will hope the leaders slip up against third-placed Bulgaria on Wednesday before they travel to Dublin for the penultimate fixture next month.

Has Santana lost his Mojo?

I’m not one to throw the coach under the bus as soon as the team does badly, but something must be done to /for Bafana Bafana. Has Brazilian Coach Joel Santana lost his mojo? The man who was tasked with  uplifting the South African National football team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup seems to have got our boys in a downward spiral, where they have lost six games in a row and have no confidence in their abilities anymore.

Bafana Bafana Need Self Confidence

We know we have plenty of talent, but all the chopping and changing doesn’t do any one any good. Time is running out for “trying out” new players and combinations. Any soccer fan in South Africa know who our best players are. They need to be put together as a squad and made to feel secure and valued. They need self-confidence. They need to think and feel like winners – then they will play like the winners we know they can be.

Aaron Mokoena – Disappointed at Loss

On Kickoff, Bafana Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena expressed his disappointment at the 1-0 loss to a weakened Republic of Ireland. South Africa had 68 percent of the possession in the match in Limerick, yet home goalkeeper Keiren Westwood was not forced into one meaningful save in the match.

“We had lots of possession, so from that point of view it is disappointing for us not to get anything from the game,” Mokoena says. “It’s a good thing that we controlled the game tonight, even more so given the changes we have made on this trip, we just could not score.”

Photo Bafana Bafana Captain, Aaron Mokeona. Kickoff

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