Siphiwe Tshabalala' (Shaba)
Bafana Bafana will face their biggest test under head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira when they host Bulgaria in an international friendly at the Orlando Stadium tonight. (Kick-off 8.35pm).
Even though Bulgaria lost 2-1 to Belgium on Wednesday, the “Tricolors” should provide South Africa with a tougher test than Thailand, who Bafana Bafana trashed Thailand 4-0 in Nelspruit last weekend. Bulgaria are ranked 39th in the world, compared with Bafana’s 90th.
Bafana Bafana Final 23-man Squad
Bafana Bafana players are also fighting for places in the final 23-man squad that Parreira will announce as per FIFA rules by June 1.
We do know that two of the 30 players are already out – Orlando Pirates midfield star Andile Jali and Israel-based defender Bevan Fransman. 20-year-old Jali flew to Florida in the United States for tests on a heart condition at the weekend. And Fransman will only be called in as a last resort.
Bafana Starting Line-up
Parreira will start the Bafana Bafana vs Bulgaria game at the Orlando Stadium tonight with –an all local side, in fact the side that slaughtered Thailand 4-0 in Nelspruit last weekend.( Coach Robson sort of blamed the vuvuzela for the defeat, lol) In that match, played at Nelspruit at the Mbombela Stadium, the undoubted stars or the game were 25-year-old Siphiwe Tshabalala’ (Shaba) and Mamelodi Sundowns Striker Katlego Mphela (Killer).
Striker Katlego Mphela (Killer)
Orlando Stadium in Soweto
The Orlando Stadium is located in the township on the south-west outskirts of Johannesburg, Soweto. Orlando Stadium was the home of South African football during the apartheid era and hosted the first major rugby match staged in the township Saturday when Pretoria based Blue Bulls defeated Canterbury Crusaders in a Super 14 semi-final.
Captain Aaron “Mbazo” Mokoena May Get a Run
Captain Aaron“Mbazo” Mokoena, who played in last weekend’s FA Cup final for Portsmouth, will probably get a run out in the second half against Bulgaria. 29 year old Mokoena is South Africa’s most experienced player with 97 caps, He has captained Bafana a record 54 times.
Bafana Bafana Foreign Based Players – Second Half
Parreira says he may test some of the 11 foreign-based professionals during the second half of a match that promises to test Bafana Bafana (The Boys).
It seems that CAP has decided that English-based midfielder Steven Pienaar who joined the camp at the weekend will get a rest because of his heavy playing schedule. He has also expressed that West Ham United striker Benni McCarthy, who is still not match fit, will also sit out this game.
Bulgaria Team
According to fifa.com Bulgaria, whose best World Cup showing was reaching the 1994 semi-finals, lost star Dimitar Berbatov this month when the 29-year-old Manchester United striker retired from international football. South African football followers are avid viewers of the English Premiership so the Bulgarian they will recognise instantly is Aston Villa midfielder Stilian Petrov.
Another midfield kingpin, Martin Petrov, is expected to shine having enjoyed a good season with fellow English Premiership giants Manchester City. Ivan Petrov scored against Belgium and he and Valeri Bojinov are expected to lead the attack against Bafana although neither have prolific international goal scoring records.
Image: Siphiwe Tshabalala’ (Shaba) football365.co.za
Image: Striker Katlego Mphela soccerladuma.co.za
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The name of the player who scored against Belgium is Ivelin Popov, not Ivan Petrov. Also Martin Petrov is injured and was not called up for the friendly.