Bafana Bafana have been playing like inspired warriors in Brazil with two wins and a draw in their practice matches against Volta Redonda, Fluminense and Boavista FC.
Bafana Score 8 Goals on Sunday
For the skeptics who believe that Carlos Parreira’s team do not know where the goal posts are, ask the Fluminese team – Bafana beat them 8 -0 on Sunday (14 March) with braces from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Kermit Erasmus. Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Tlou Segolela, Richard Henyekane and Dylon Claasen also put their names on the scoring sheet with a goal each.
The first practice match of the South African National Team’s Brazil training camp was against Volta Redondo on Saturday 13 March. They played to a goalless draw.
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The matches were played at the Granja Comary in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where the national team is holding a training camp.
Bafana Bafana vs Volta Redondo 0-0
In the match against Volta Redonda Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Parreira used two sets of teams for each half – giving almost every player a run. The match comes after an intensive week of training since the squad’s arrival in Brazil on Tuesday (9 March).
Midfielder Teko Modise captained the first half team, while defender Matthew Booth took the armband to lead the second half side.
Bafana Bafana had the better of exchanges and should have won the match but Franklin Cale missed a penalty in the 65th minute after a Volta Redonda player was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box
Bafana Bafana vs Fluminese 8 – 0
Two goals each in either half from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Kermit Erasmus helped Bafana Bafana to an eight-nil (8-0) victory over Fluminense in the second training match played at the Granja Comary.
Once again head coach Carlos Parreira used two different teams in each half.
Different Teams in Each Half
He used the same sides that played against Volta Redonda on Saturday (13 March), making only one change – Lebohang Mokoena swopping places with Thulasizwe Mbuyane.
According to the safa website, the match started at a furious pace and Bafana Bafana showed much improvement compared to the first match.
Their passes were almost all spot on, and they kept shape and the ball possession was a marvel to watch.
But it took Parreira’s boys 40 minutes to find the back of the net with Siphiwe Tshabalala the scorer following a fine move which involved a couple of players. A minute later Tshabalala made it two nil and Bafana Bafana were in complete control.
In the second half, the second team continued where the first side finished. Five minutes after the restart Kermit Erasmus increased the lead to three nil (3-0), making it four nil (4-0) a minute later.
It was Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s turn to put the matter beyond doubt when he scored a beautiful free kick after he was fouled on the edge of the box.
Tlou Segolela, Richard Henyekane and Daylon Claasen completed the rout by getting their names on the score sheet – Claasen scoring from the penalty kick after Thulani Serero was brought down.
Bafana Bafana vs Boavista FC 2 – 0
In a pulsating football match against one of the top Brazilian clubs, Boavista FC, the South African Men’s Senior National Team (Bafana Bafana) defeated local Brazilian side Boavista by a score of two goals to nil (2-nil).
This was the third practice match of the team’s Brazilian training camp and was played at the Granja Comary.
Siphiwe Tshabalala
According to the safa website, the first goal came from Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 30th minute following a rebound from the Boavista goalkeeper. This goal is Tshabalala’s third in three games.
In the 54th minute Lebohang Mokoena made it two nil when he also found the back of the net.
So Far the Camp a Success says , Carlos Alberto Parreira
“On Tuesday (16 March) our training camp will be one week old and we have seen some improvement in the squad. We cannot ask for miracles and expect players to be super fit, but it is a process. I must say so far the camp has been a success. The outcome has been very positive” said Bafana Bafana Head Coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira. “We should have won the first game as well but, make no mistake, we are not there yet. We still have a lot of work ahead of us and we will continue working hard. I am happy about the wins but the main idea remains to grow this side to a formidable team that will be super fit, can keep shape, keep possession, and finish off strongly. My keepers have not been tested, which means we are doing something right in defense,” continued Parreira.
Bafana Play Belo Horizonte Today
Bafana Bafana’s next match is against Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte today on Wednesday, 17 March 2010 before they tackle Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, 20 March 2010.
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