Vuvuzela South Africa

At Half-time the Orlando Stadium was in the dark , then the the Lamontville Golden Arrows lit up the Soweto night with their 6-0 drubbing of Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 Wafa Wafa Finals.

The goals were scored by a Njabulo Manqana brace, Richard Henyekane, Thokozani Msheng, Nhlanhla Zothwane and an own goal from unfortunate Ajax defender Deniss Ivanovs. (The score could look more like a cricket score if not for some great saves by veteran goalkeeper Hans Vonk).

Golden Arrows 2-0 Ahead at Half-Time

Golden Arrows Njabulo Manqana - Man of the Match

At half-time, with Golden Arrows 2-0 ahead, the power failed  that led to a 55-minute long delay.  This is really a disgrace, especially in a Cup Final with R8 million at stake.

From the kick off Manqoba Mngqithi’s men looked like they had fire in their hearts and eThekwini-power in their boots as they showed a determination to bring the silverware back home.

Golden Arrows’ Expansive Play

They launched into the attacking football that has been to the club’s detriment at times. And it was clear Golden Arrows’ expansive play had Ajax on the back foot. These are perfect conditions for Henyekane to start breaking through it everyone knows that it is just a matter of time before the ball off his boot will connect with the back of the net.

The Urban Warriors’ only real chance of the first half was well saved by Helton Da Rocha, who tipped Nhlanhla Shabalala’s header over the bar.

Richard Henyekane Scores

This opportunity came shortly after the restart when the fired up Abafana Bes’thende dominated the field and Richard Henyekane added a third from close-range in the 49th minute.

On the stroke of full-time Manqana dinked past Derek Descamps and chipped the ball past Vonk from a tight angle for his second goal of the night to complete a glorious night for Abafana Bes’thende and a nightmare for Hans Vonk and the Urban Warriors.

MTN8 Wafa Wafa Finals Winner

This means that Golden Arrows win the MTN8 Wafa Wafa Finals and bring back the cup to KwaZulu Natal – oh and don’t forget the check for R8 million.

Man of the Match – Njabulo Manqana

Golden Arrows’ Njabulo Manqana was named man of the match following Arrows emphatic 6-0 win over Ajax Cape Town in the MTN 8 Final.

Lamontville Golden Arrows 6
Ajax Cape Town 0

Arrows Goals: Manqana 9, Ivanovs 20(og), Henyekane 49, Mshengu 66, Zothwane 73, Manqana 90

Photo: Golden Arrows’ Njabulo Manqana soccerladuma.co.za

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Carlos Alberto Parreira is the new coach for the South African National Soccer Team. After two weeks of rumours and denials, the South African Football Association (SAFA) made the announcement just after 7pm at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg.

During this Bafana coach fiasco, it seemed all that the loyal and passionate supporters were agreed upon, is that they were happy that Joel Santana was out of the picture.

Most South African fans have been calling for a local coach – Clive Barker, Gordon Igesund, Gavin Hunt or even Pitso. Nobody wanted another Brazilian coach.

Bafana’s Only Coach

But it seemed that the die was cast long before Joel Santana even stepped down. Remember when Safa and Santana were denying that Pappa Joel was leaving? Remember that this voice of Parreira drifted across the ocean from Brazil saying that he was standing ready to step into the position IF he was the only coach?

So Who is Carlos Alberto Parreira?

Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira was born February 27, 1943, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Parreira supports Fluminense, and he has won two important League titles for the club: The First Division Brazilian Championship in 1984 and the Third Division in 1999.

Parreira is noted for having been one of only two coaches that has led four national teams to the World Cup: Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, and Saudi Arabia in 1998. The other coach, Bora Milutinovic, surpassed this record when he led a fifth team in 2002. He was also involved to some extent with the 1970 championship team for Brazil, which he claims was an inspiration for him to aspire to be a national football coach.

FIFA World Cup Matches Record

Parreira has coached national squads in 21 games in FIFA World Cup competition. Parreira’s coaching record is 10-4-8 (Wins-Draws-Losses). His teams have scored 27 goals and conceded 29.

Interview with Carlos Alberto Parreira on Fifa Website

Photo: Carlos Alberto Parreira deposintonaweb

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The rescheduled MTN Wafa Wafa Super 8 Final will take place this weekend at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto between Ajax Cape Town and Lamontville Golden Arrows.

The final had to be rescheduled to 24 October 2009 after the announcement of the South African squad for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup -due to the fact that the Amajita squad contained five Ajax Cape Town players

Urban Warriors Take on Abafana Bes’thende

Now the Urban Warriors and their youngsters, (who reached the final sixteen in Egypt wit the South African U20 team) are ready to take on Abafana Bes’thende right in the heart of Soweto.

Ajax Players Could Each Get R100 000 for a Win

Ajax Cape Town players who are waiting for their new coach Foppe de Haan to join them have an added incentive – over and above pride – Club CEO George Comitis said the players deserved to be rewarded for their hard work and has promised each of the players a bonus of more than R100 000 if they win the MTN8 Final against Golden Arrows at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night. (Well he promised the players R4 million of the R8 million prize if they bring home the silverware).

For this match, caretaker coach, Jan Pruijn will be on the bench although their new coach, will be there keeping an eye on his new team. He will start his job with Ajax on 2 November.

Ajax Cape Town vs Lamontville Golden Arrows

So what about the match? And is the pitch ok at the Orlando Stadium?

Well. The Amajita laities are full of fire, they are determined the Ajax is going to lift the trophy – (I’m sure they are also thinking of what they will do with the $$)

Talking to KickOff.com the players, who include Thulani Serero, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sameehg Doutie, George Maluleka and Tawfeeq Salie say they want to win the Cup by all means. Doutie says that they are focused to win the trophy.

“We will be focused on the day. Whether I play or my other teammates play, we all have the same vision, and that is winning the MTN8 Final. We have won other trophies but not the MTN8 and this is our time,” he adds.

Golden Arrows Striker Richard Henyekane

If there is a man on the field who knows he is going to be marked Abafana Bes’thende meet the Urban Warriors, it is Golden Arrows striker Richard Henyekane. However, according to football365, Henyekane is confident Arrows will finish Ajax Cape Town in regulation time.

The Durban outfit will be playing in their first major cup final after ousting Free State Stars and AmaZulu.

The ‘Kimberley Express’ has been in fine form in the cup but has warned the Urban Warriors it would be wrong to only keep an eye on him.

“But if Ajax is going to watch me only then they’ll be making a mistake. We have very good players in every position and each one of them can do damage.”

Transport Arrangements for Ajax and Golden Arrows Supporters from Cape Town and from Durban

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According to the Safa website: On Monday 19 October 2009 it was unanimously agreed between the Management Committee representing the South African Football Association and the Senior National Coach Mr Joel Natalino Santana, that Mr. Santana would, with immediate effect vacate his current position as Bafana Bafana National Coach.

Santana to be Replaced

Safa is expected to name a new Bafana Bafana head coach on Friday to replace Joel Santana.

Brazilian-born Santana who was a replacement Carlos Alberto Parreira spent a dismal 16 months in charge of the national soccer team, a period that has seen that has seen Bafana Bafana plunge down the rankings to 85th place.

Lowest Ranking Ever

The 85th ranking is Bafana Bafana’s lowest ever, with South Africa dropping 12 positions from last month’s 73rd placing. No wonder after eight defeats in their last nine friendly internationals since reaching the semifinals of the Confederations Cup in June.

Said Safa spokesperson Morio Sanyane: “Santana resigned after he met with the president (Nematandani and his management committee) on Monday. The parties had a heart to heart talk and Santana decided to stand down. A new coach could be named when the Safa executive meet on Friday.”

In the interim, the Management Committee resolved that  Jairo Leal and  Pitso Mosimane would assume the role of Caretaker Coaches.

Problem Deeper than a New Coach

Many think that Bafana Bafana’s problems run much deeper than the coach. At the moment, we have a demoralized squad and the management in South African football at each other’s throats, tripping over their own egos.

Yes, a new coach is necessary, but Safa also needs to clean up its act and stop playing political games. The governing body of soccer in South Africa, the host country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, needs to be unified and committed and have some dignity!

New Coach for Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana needs more than a coach. What has happened to that Sports psychologist who worked with the team before the Confed Cup, the guy who works with the Boks? He should be brought back to make sure the boys are feeling good about themselves again and getting their heads as well as their bodies into the game.

As for the new coach for Bafana Bafana – well, we will know on Friday

Will Parreira come Back?

Football365 believes that Hunt, Sono and Barker will undoubtedly be the front-runners for the vacant coaching job, as it would be foolish to appoint another foreigner so close to the world’s biggest sporting event.

But then I wonder about all the noise the other Brazilian, Carlos Alberto Parreira has been making about being available to coach Bafana Bafana as long as he is the only coach. Despite Safa’s denials about not speaking to him, would he expose himself so for nothing?

Photo: Carlos Natalino Santana football356.co.za

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The Republic of Ireland national football team will have to beat France in order to participate in the 2010 World Cup South Africa. This was decided in Zurich  this afternoon (Monday) in a controversial seeded draw.

The two sides (Ireland and France) last met in the 2006 World Cup qualifying stages sharing a 0-0 draw in Paris; a Thierry Henry goal was the difference between the two sides in Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland national football team will play their home tie first at Croke Park in Dublin on November 14 and then face a monumental task at the Stade de France in Paris on 18 November 2009.

Seeded Play-offs – Criticism

FIFA have been strongly criticized over the last minute decision to seed the play-offs. For many it looked like an attempt to ease the qualification of ‘big’ teams like France and Portugal, who attract big crowd and good television ratings.

Ireland coach, Giovanni Trapattoni criticized FIFA for seeding the play-offs – Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Slovenia were all unseeded meaning they could not play each other.

France, Portugal, Russia, and Greece entered the draw as the seeded teams.

Irish fans were hoping to draw Greece but instead Ukraine will travel to Athens for the first leg. Portugal will play Bosnia-Herzegovina while Russia take on Slovenia.

France has Advantage of Playing the Second Leg at Home

To make matters worse for Trapattoni’s Ireland team, France will also have the advantage of playing the second leg of the play-offs at home, in the Stade de France in Paris.

But that is not the Republic’s only worry. According to the Irish Times, to reach South Africa, Trapattoni’s side are going to have to buck a worrying trend – Ireland have yet to reach a major finals by beating European opposition in a play-off situation.

Seeded Playoff Draw

Portugal, Greece, and Russia, the three other seeded nations in the draw, will all have to play the second legs of their ties away from home.

• Republic of Ireland v France
• Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Greece v Ukraine
• Russia v Slovenia

* Two-legged ties to be played on November 14th and 18th

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