This might not be the hottest match with both the South African Team and the Serbian Team missing star players and neither team having had much preparation time, but still tonight’s match between Bafana Bafana and the White Eagles will give everyone something to think about as teams start winding up their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaigns.
Serbia Coach Radomic Antic Confident
Serbia coach Radomir Antic was adamant the single workout yesterday was enough to shape up his 14th-ranked team ahead of tonight’s encounter at Super Stadium in Pretoria (7pm), and backed his young squad to do well in the absence of established stalwarts Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic. In the absence of Stankovic, Serbia will be captained by Valencia midfielder Nikola Zigic.
Serbia, nicknamed Beli Orlovi (White Eagles), look almost certain to qualify for the World Cup, holding an eight-point lead over powerhouses France in Group 7 of the UEFA Qualifying Zone.
Coach Joel Santana on the Bench
Meanwhile, South African Coach Joel Santana who was detained in Brazil with acute pneumonia, landed in the country yesterday and went straight to camp to take over the team.
Bafana Bafana assistant coaches Pitso Mosimane and Julio Leal announced the squad last week and Golden Arrows striker Richard Henyekane, who was the top scorer in the 2008/09 Absa Premiership, is the only uncapped player in the team.
The technical team has kept faith with the majority of the players who did duty in the 2009 Confederations Cup, though Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker are missing through injury.
Santana’s charges established a feeling of confidence with their performances in the recent Confederations Cup and have reassured the nation that 2010 is not a lost cause for the national side.
Bafana Bafana Need a Striker
However, Bafana Bafana would do well to not be too confident against the Serbian team. We still need strikers and all eyes tonight are going to be on Golden Arrows’ top striker Richard Henyekane, the new cap, who will finally get the chance to show that he is able play at the same level on the international stage.
(It would be nice it they took a look next time at someone like Fanteni from Orlando Pirates).
Pictures: Richard Henyekane. Football365.co.za
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Should we say it was a learning curve again??