Vuvuzela South Africa

SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe

So there was a bit of confusion about the match venues for the remaining four  Bafana Bafana International friendlies, but South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO Leslie Sedibe stepped up and confirmed them all.

Bafana Bafana vs Bulgaria at Orlando Stadium

Sedibe said the match against Bulgaria , who arrive today, on Monday 24 May 2010 will be played at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Kick off is 20h35.

“We are very excited to present Bafana Bafana with such a formidable team, positioned 39 in the FIFA world rankings, it will be a very good test for both the players and the technical team; ” said Sedibe on the Safa website

Another friendly match, this time against the 34 ranked Columbia will be played on Thursday 27 May 2010 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. The visiting team will arrive on Monday 24 May and are eager to take on Bafana Bafana on home soil.

Tickets for both these matches will be available from Thursday 20 May 2010 at Computicket outlets country-wide as well as Shoprite Checkers stores at a cost of R40.00.

Bafana Bafana vs Denmark

SAFA has also confirmed a match on Saturday 05 June against Denmark.  And did I say SAFA announced that they would confirm the match venue? Well sorry, this venue  for the final international friendly before the World Cup will be confirmed in the next few days.

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Well there you have it.  Thailand coach, Bryan Robson is sort-of blaming the deafening noise of vuvuzelas for his team’s poor performance at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday. Bafana Bafana Beat Thailand 4-0.

Fifa Ranking

Thailand is 105 on the Fifa World Ranking (South Africa is 90). I wonder what role the Vuvuzela noise played in that ranking? I mean, according to this, Bafana should have beaten Thailand – even if they played in a sound proof box.

After the match Robson, a former Manchester United player and England Captain, said that his team played better in the second half. He did remark that many of the Thai clubs didn’t want to release player for the international friendly and he also mentioned the long flight.

Vuvuzela- A Weapon in the World Cup

“I think with that noise South Africa could have an advantage in the World Cup,” Robson is quoted by Reuters. “If the atmosphere is like that in the World Cup it will raise the level of the players a little bit. If the supporters are behind them like that, it will be a big boost.”

“The coaches at the World Cup are definitely going to have to inform their players beforehand that they will have to communicate effectively with each other on the field,” added the former Manchester United player.

“It’s very difficult to get any message to the players from the bench. Coaches are going to have to make that known to their players.”

We Want it Louder and Louder Says CAP

According to Kickoff.com Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is not perturbed and has asked the fans to double their efforts and blow their vuvuzelas.

“We have to reinforce that advantage,” the Brazilian mentor said in response. “We want it louder and louder.”

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Bafana Right Back Gaxa gets the ball.

Bafana Bafana 4- Thailand 0. Katlego Mphela, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker wet the roof of the new Mbombela Stadium in memorable fashion in front of 30,000 yellow-and-green clad fans. Mphela score twice.

It was Bafana Bafana all the way in Nelspruit on Sunday at the Bafana Bafana vs Thailand game. OK, we know that Thailand didn’t field the strongest team, but every devoted Bafana fan could see that the boys are getting it right.; they are putting good moves together; they are moving forward and they are taking strong, targeted shots at goal.

Final Build Up to the World Cup

The main thing is that Bafana Bafana are building confidence. They are scoring; they can feel that the country is behind them – this is a great start to the final build-up to the World Cup.

Carlos Alberto Parreira named a solid XI for the Bafana Bafana vs Thailand game with Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Thanduyise Khuboni  in midfield. Mphela started up front with Surprise Moriri just behind while Teko Modise and Tshabalala took up positions on the respective flanks.

The first goal came when Siphiwe Tshabalala curled a free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner to give Bafana Bafana the lead. Read about the game on football 365.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira - Big Improvement

“There were a lot of positives to be drawn from the match. I don’t care about the quality of the opponent,” he said at the post-match press conference after the first of five tune-up games on home soil before the World Cup opener against Mexico on June 11.

“It’s a big improvement. We are now in our final stage of preparations and we are looking for performance and results.

“Results build confidence and as for the performance, the players look more comfortable on the ball. We still need more penetration but I feel it is coming,” the Brazilian said.

“We now have stronger opponents coming and they will give us a more physical challenge. We are in the final build-up phase but this is a good start.”

Parreira said the game against Bulgaria, Colombia and Denmark would all be progressively tougher.

Bulgarian coach Stanimir Stoilov has announced his squad that will play Bafana at Soccer City on May 24.

Image:Bafana Right Back Gaxa. football 365

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Today, at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Bafana Bafana need to take on Thailand and score. Bafana need to put the ball in the net a few times.

Speaking to kickoff, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune says the energy created by the fans as the World Cup nears is proving a confidence booster for the team and he hopes the support that they provide will be influential in ripping apart Thailand at the new Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Come back of Teko Modise

Will this be the comeback of Teko Modise? The wonderboy midfielder of Orlando Pirates, who has been so badly out of form, feels confident after the training camps. He is also determined to keep his unblemished record as Bafana Bafana captain intact against Thailand.

Teko Modise spoke to kickoff: “Starting from the camp in Brazil my confidence started going up, especially knowing that I have been given the responsibility of leading the team. It shows that the coach has faith in me and my confidence has been growing all along.

“All I need to do is work on a couple of things like everyone else and hopefully when the tournament starts; I will be sharp and back to my normal form.”

Today, when Bafana Bafana take on Thailand at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, we will see whether Modise, probably one of the most talented players in South Africa, has got his mojo back. If Teko Modise can score and his confidence is boosted, Bafana Bafana’s World Cup prospects look a whole lot better.

Foreign-Based Players

Steven Pienaar who recently received Player of the Season at Everton is playing is in great form and Aaron Mokoena was one of the stalwarts of his team, Portsmouth FC yesterday in the FA Cup final.  Once all the foreign-based players have joined the Bafana Bafana squad the prospects of a win over Mexico on 11 June does not look so distant, in fact it actually looks very possible.

Locally Based Star Players

Two locally based star players Siphiwe Tshabalala and Siboniso Gaxa are eagerly anticipating South Africa’s international friendly against Thailand at the new Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit this (Sunday) afternoon, seeing it as an opportunity to sharpen their skills ahead of the June 11 kick-off of the 2010 World Cup and also cementing their place in the final 23-man squad.

Gaxa and Tshabalala

As one of the most consistent players in the national team setup, Tshabalala has all but ensured himself of a place in Carlos Alberto Parreira’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Gaxa is another star playerwho seems to have the inside track when it comes to being a first choice player, and the Mamelodi Sundowns defender is looking forward to the match against Thailand.

What about Benni Mc Carthy?

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira says Benni McCarthy will play no part in Sunday’s friendly against Thailand in Nelspruit.

Bafana Bafana Squad:

Goalkeeper:
•    91 Brian Baloyi
•    32 Itumeleng Khune
•    1 Emile Baron
•    1 Rowen Fernandez
Defender:
•    2 Siboniso Gaxa
•    23 Morgan Gould
•    77 Matthew Booth
•    19 Innocent Mdledle
•    21 Siyabonga Sangweni
•    32 Lucas Thwala
•    3 Tsepo Masilela
•    19 Bryce Moon
•    4 Aaron Mokoena
Midfielder:
•    18 Thulasizwe Mbuyane
•    15 Andile Jali
•    2 Benson Mhlongo
•    13 Lance Davids
•    25 Thanduyise Khuboni
•    34 Franklin Cale
•    6 Reneilwe Letsholonyane
•    34 Kagiso Dikgacoi
•    11 Teko Modise
•    12 Gert Schalkwyk
•    14 Siphiwe Tshabalala
•    6 Macbeth Sibaya
•    20 Elrio van Heerden
•    20 Steven Pienaar
Striker:
•    23 Richard Henyekane
•    21 Katlego Mashego
•    17 Katlego Mphela
•    29 Terror Fanteni
•    17 Benni McCarthy

Pic of Map to Umbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

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Fabio Capello has announced his provisional 30-man England squad for the World Cup and the big news is that Jamie Carragher is back, while there is no place for Bobby Zamora or Owen Hargreaves.

Provisional England 2010 Wold Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, David James, Robert Green

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Jamie Carragher, Ashley Cole, Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock

Midfielders: Gareth Barry, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard, Tom Huddlestone, Adam Johnson, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Scott Parker, Theo Walcott, Shaun Wright-Phillips

Forwards: Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney

Source: Reuters

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