Vuvuzela South Africa

Well it is bye bye Waka Waka and Hello Wafa Wafa as the MTN 8 Wafa Wafa Venues and Times have been announced.

MTN 8 is  a knockout tournament that sees the country’s top eight clubs compete against each other in a revamped version of the exciting season-opener cup competition.

MTN 8 Oldest Competition

The MTN 8 is the oldest cup competition in the country and pits the eight best teams from the previous season against each other in a seeded knockout competition format. The “winner takes all” R8 million pot of gold, while the other seven participating teams receive an R800 000 participation fee.

The 2010/2011 edition of the MTN8 gets underway on the 21st and 22nd of August with the eight teams heading straight into the quarter final stage of the knock out competition.

Homeground Advantage

Ajax Cape Town, Moroka Swallows, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will all have home advantage in the quarter-finals of the MTN8.

The venues and times were confirmed following a draw at the Orlando Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

The fixtures are as follows:

Friday 20 August 2010

Ajax Cape Town v Mamelodi Sundowns, Athlone Stadium, 20:00

Saturday 21 August 2010

Moroka Swallows v SuperSport United, Dobsonville Stadium, 15:00

Kaizer Chiefs v Bloemfontein Celtic, Rand Stadium, 20:15

Sunday 22 August 2010

Orlando Pirates v Santos, Orlando Stadium, 15:00

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South Africa hosts Ghana for a friendly at Soccer City on Wednesday the 11 th of August 2010. A match up between Bafana Bafana and the Black Stars is maybe not what new coach Pitso Mosimane wants right now.

But Mosimane is a  brave man and he tells football365 that “upcoming friendly against Ghana will provide a true indication of how far the national team has come.

Mosimane once again preached about the benefits of youth development, something which his predecessor Parreira took some flak for from SAFA back in 2007.

Ghana – 2nd in Africa

“Ghana is second in Africa and 23 in the world. How did they get there? Where are we in relation to that?

“Ghana focused on development and their senior side is reaping the rewards of investing in junior national sides,” said Mosimane, who warned the nation that it is time to “fasten our seatbelts and keep our composure.”

Coach Mosimane’s Four Year Plan

Bafana Bafana Head Coach Pitso Mosimane is a man with a plan, in fact a Four -year -plan.

Coach Mosimane presented his 2014 Vision on Thursday (22 July 2010) at a media briefing held at SAFA House in Johannesburg. The vision is to prepare and build a strong, competitive and respectable team for the country in preparation for the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Mosimane applauded the PSL for their commitment and support in accommodating Bafana Bafana’s program in the League’s calendar. Pitso Mosimane said that his continuous engagement with the League is the approach he will apply to other stakeholders in the football fraternity.

SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe- Vision 2014

SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe says the decision to kick off Vision 2014 with an international friendly match against Ghana demonstrates the Association’s commitment to improve the standard of South African football.

“The road to 2014 will not be an easy one. We are mindful of the challenges ahead, especially after having staged a very successful FIFA World Cup in our country. Our choice of opponents in this preparatory stage is to ensure that our players continue with the momentum of the World Cup, we are also sending a message to our team that there is no room for complacency when we face any of our opponents in the qualifiers. We must prepare adequately for Niger and Sierra Leone, just as we will prepare for the African Champions Egypt in our group,” explained Sedibe.

Bafana Bafana vs Black Stars Kickoff

Kickoff is at 20h35 and tickets for the match  at Soccer City go on sale on Friday 23 July at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers stores. Tickets cost R50.00 all round.

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The Coaches: Roger de Sa and Neil Tovey at Soccer City

With a sold-out 76 700 crowd, and the presence of president Jacob Zuma and Bafana Bafana, the opening of  Soccer City with this afternoon’ s Nedbank Cup Final between AmaZulu and Bidvest Wits is expected to be a heluva event.

But the question is – can AmaZulu beat Wits this afternoon in the first ever match at the revamped at Soccer City? (kickoff at 3pm) The game between Usuthu and the Clever Boys will be broadcast to over 22 million viewers worldwide.

Bafana Bafana at Soccer City

The presence of Bafana, less than three weeks before they play the opening World Cup match against Mexico at the same venue on June 11, will no doubt see the national team given a reception that will lift the roof of the awesome revamped stadium.
AmaZulu vs Wits – Even Match

AmaZulu is my hometown team, based at Moses Mabhida Stadium you are talking about, so I agree with Usuthu coach Neil Tovey that the boys can do it. I hope they just keep their discipline tight, having suffered a red card in each of their last three games, while two games ended in penalties.

Usuthu last brought home some silverware in 1992 and this could be the year that two Durban teams write their names into the history books of South African soccer – Golden Arrows have already taken one trophy this season (MTN8).

Even Match

All experts seem to agree that this Nedbank Cup Final is a very even match.

According to football365.com Wits coach Roger de Sa believes AmaZulu have the edge going into the final.
“Sure we have had an easier run-in, and that gives AmaZulu the edge. I do not have a problem with that. But it will be close,” he said.

“There was little to choose between the teams in the league. AmaZulu finished ninth and we ended 10th. We have not won a cup in 15 years and they have gone 18 years without a trophy, so there is nothing in it.

Nedbank Cup Final R6 million

The winning team of the Nedbank Cup Final today will pocket R6 million, but for the loyal Usuthu supporters it will be a joyous celebration after years of pain and defeat.

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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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AmaZulu Celebrate after their Victory over Sundowns

AmaZulu will play Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup final at Soccer City on Saturday after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 4-3 in a sudden death penalty shoot-out after the game ended 1-1 in extra-time.

The dramatic penalty shootout, which they won 4-3, included three saves by goalkeeper Nicolas Gindre.

Goals Scored bye Mokoena for Downs and Gumede for Usuthu

The goals were scored by Lebogang Mokoena for Downs 74th minute and Sandile Gumede got the equaliser in the 89th minute to take the game to extra-time.

Usuthu had the better of first half exchanges, looking more threatening and energetic in attack.

Big-spending Sundowns dominated possession with their calculated passing, but were not so hot in front of goal and it was AmaZulu who enjoyed the sharper opportunities.

Bafana Bafana vs Thailand

With the Bafana Bafana vs Thailand Match on Sunday 16 May, it was accepted that Sundowns were without six players currently with Bafana Bafana’s World Cup training squad but in their defense, the boys from Durban can point to a string of suspensions that depleted them as well.

In the end, it was left to Litha Ngxabi to seal the game for Usuthu, and he did so, sending the ball past Baloyi’s outstretched hands.

AmaZulu: (4-4-2): Gindre, Biyela, Mkhonza, Chintu (Siboniso Gumede 46’), Ishaka; Mabaso, Sangweni, Sikhakane (Ngxabi 74’), Mokoro; Ngwenya (Sandile Gumede 80’), Dlamini.

Sundowns: (4-4-): Baloyi; Mere, Xulu, Mungomeni, Mayinga; Mmotong, Nyandoro (Ncaca 112’), Pattison, Mokoena; Vilakazi, Katongo (Phala 67’)

Read about the Amazulu vs Mamelodi Sundowns Match

Image: AmaZulu Celebrate. football365.co.za

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