Vuvuzela South Africa

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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Former Bafana Bafana Captain Lucas Radebe was introduced yesterday by Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Minister of Tourism, as South African Tourism’s 2010 ambassador to the world. Minister van Schalkwyk made the announcement at an event in Sandton where he also launched a Brand Messaging Book for Tourism for South Africans.

In 2004, the 40-year-old Soweto-born former Kaizer Chiefs and Leeds United captain was ranked 54th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.

Ten things you may (or may not) know about Lucas Radebe

• He was born in Diepkloof, Soweto on 12 April 1969, one of a family of 10 children
• He spent his young adulthood in the former homeland of Bophuthatswana where he started playing football to help him cope with boredom.
• He made his international debut playing for South Africa against Cameroon on 7 July 1992 and went on to earn 70 caps for South Africa.
• Kaizer Chiefs ’sold’ Radebe to Leeds United in 1994 for 250 000.
• His nickname at Leeds, ‘The Chief’, was given to him by the fans in acknowledgement of his star defense player qualities.
• Lucas Radebe captained Leeds United from 1998 to 2002. He retired from football in 2005.
• Last year a local brewery (near Leeds’ home ground, Elland Road) asked for public suggestions for a new beer name. ‘Radebebeer’ was proposed by thousands in his honour..
• He counts former President Nelson Mandela and Gary Player among his close personal friends..
• In December 2000, he received the FIFA Fair Play Award for his efforts to rid soccer of racism as well as for his work with children in South Africa.
• Kaiser Chiefs, the English indie rock band from Leeds took its name from the iconic South African football team of the same name because Lucas Radebe played for them once as a defender.

(Source info.gov.za)

Photo: Lucas Radebe “The Chief“

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I thought I should take a quick look at the Serbia National Football Team, the White Eagles, who are due to meet Bafana Bafana in a friendly in Pretoria on Wednesday 12 August.

Well Serbia’s Home stadium is Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade and their Head coach, Radomir Antic.  According to Oleole, their top goal scorer is Savo Milošević with 35 goals.

Serbia National Football Team

The Serbia national football team was previously known as the Yugoslavia national football team until February 2003 and the Serbia and Montenegro national football team until June 2006 when Serbia declared independence as the successor state to the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. It was renamed the Serbia national football team on 28 June 2006.

On August 16, 2006 the new team, representing Serbia played its first international match, with a 3-1 away win against the Czech Republic.

Serbia Participated in 10 FIFA World Cup Competitions

Serbia came fourth in 1930 and 1962 in the FIFA World Cup and has made 10 appearances. At present Serbia are at the top of their Group 7,  2010 FIFA World Cup group with 18 points from seven matches -  eight ahead of 2006. According to Fifia. com France is tipped as the winner of the group with Romania next. Serbia is the outsider :

Serbia, who are competing in an international tournament for the first time on their own, having separated from Montenegro last year, enjoyed an impressive qualifying campaign for the European Championships and only lost two of their 14 games, finishing on 24 points, four behind group winners Poland and three behind Portugal. Serbia’s competitiveness was shown by the fact that they remained unbeaten in all four games against the two group principals; their only defeats coming away to Belgium and Kazakhstan.

The Serbia Squad has been reshuffled ahead of their World Cup qualifier with France next month. According to Yahoo News Canada, Coach Antic

… left out wingers Bosko Jankovic and Miralem Suljemani, captain Dejan Stankovic and Nenad Milijas.

And included uncapped goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic as well as midfielders Radosav Petrovic and Marko Milinkovic for the match against the 2010 World Cup hosts.

Win Tickets to the Bafana Bafana vs Serbia Game

You can win double tickets to the Bafana Bafana vs Serbia Game on the Official Bafana Bafana Supporters Page on Facebook.

Picture: Serbia National Football Team from oleole

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Football boots. Right – when you mention kit to any soccer player, there is very little they enjoy talking about more than their boots – not just the brand – Adidas, Nike, Reebok, Lotto, Puma -  but also every single detail.

Footy-Boots.com is currently running the Football Boots Awards 2009 and asking readers, supporters, players, and soccer boot enthusiasts across the globe to cast their vote.

Predator Power Swerve

Although former Liverpool Star Craig Johnson is the man behind the Predator, he gives six excellent tips on what to look for when you choose your perfect football boot.

Six Categories – Vote for your Favorite Football Boots

Of the six categories, five are open, public votes with one category being decided by a panel of experts.

Voting will run for two weeks and results will be published shortly after.

So, if you have not recorded your opinion yet, make sure you do so soon. Not only could you swing the vote in favor of your favorite footy boots, you could also be in line to win some fantastic prizes. Get over to www.footy-boots.com and cast your vote

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The new look Orlando Pirates side  scored a stunning 2 -0 victory over English Premiership club Manchester City at a  jam-packed Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday (Saturday) in a Vodacom Challenge Match.

This as an auspicious start to the pre season for coach Ruud  Kroll and the Buccaneers who were without their four Bafana Bafana stars, striker Katlego Mashego, midfield playmaker Teko Modise, plus defenders Innocent Mdledle and midfield anchorman Benson Mhlongo who were rested by Krol after helping Bafana finish fourth in last month Fifa Confederations Cup played in South Africa.

Once a Pirate Always a Pirate

The massive crowd went wild as Bucs’ leading goal scorer from last season, defender Lucas Thwala slotted Pirates into a 1-0 lead 10 minutes from the interval.

Phenyo Mongla Scores a Goal

A sensational second goal by Bucs newcomer, Botswana Midfielder, Phenyo Mongala in the 56th minute sealed the victory for the Buccaneers as their supporters gave the crossed arms salute – once a Pirate, always a Pirate!

The Daily Mail’s story Orlando Pirates 2 Man City 0: Hughes Boys walk the Plank tells the tale from the UK perspective:

“Moneybags Manchester City were made to walk the plank by Orlando Pirates as their South African trip started with a defeat.”

Manchester City face Kaizer Chiefs in their second Challenge match at Durban’s Absa Stadium on Tuesday night.

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