Vuvuzela South Africa

On Wednesday 3 March Bafana Bafana will celebrate the 100-day countdown to the 2010 FIFA World Cup at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban with a friendly against Namibia.

100-Day Countdown to 2010 World Cup

In the stands on the 100- day countdown night will be a man who knows what winning is all about. Former Brazilian Captain, Cafu will be in town to attend the dinner at the ICC the previous night, and the match on Wednesday. Cafu twice won the World Cup as captain of the Brazilian side.

Joining him will be a line up of former Bafnan Bafana Players. FIFA President Sepp Blatter will also be in town. March 2 officially marks the 100-day countdown.

Big Screen at Moses Mabida

Overseas-based Players in Bafana Bafana Squad

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira has included some overseas-based players when he announced his squad to face Namibia. The international friendly encounter will be played on Wednesday, 03 March at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Kick off is at 20h30.

“It’s a profound gesture for us; to celebrate 100 days before the World Cup demonstrates how close we are to the event, and we are glad to be participating in the proceedings. But over and above that this match comes at a time when the leagues around the world are at a crucial stage; so we have tried not to disrupt the club’s programs too much. At most we have taken three from each team but still keeping with the core of our squad. This is a chance to see some players more – like defender Bryce Moon ; who I haven’t seen in a Bafana Bafana jersey in a long time and also because he will not be able to travel to Brazil and Germany with us,” said Parreira on the Safa website.

But the coach was quick to point out that it does not mean that the players who are not in this team have lost their places in the squad for the World Cup.

“No, even though I have a good idea of what my final squad will look like, there are still places up for grabs, so I still have to see other players as we enter the final road of our preparations,” added Parreira.

Bafana Bafana Squad
BARON Emille (GK)
DAVIDS Lance
CARNELL Bradley
FRANSMAN Bevan
GOULD Morgan
JALI Andile
KHUBONI Thanduyise
KHUNE Itumeleng (GK)
KLATE Daine
LETSHOLONYANE Reneilwe
MODISE Teko
MOKOENA Lebohang
MOON Bryce
MPHELA Katlego
NGCONGCA Anele
SANGWENI Siyabonga
SEGOLELA Tlou
SERERO Thulani
THWALA Lucas
TOM Mzivukile
TSHABALALA Siphiwe
XULU Siyanda

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Well it looks like Carlos Alberto Parreira is making headway with Bafana Bafana. They managed to score three goals at Moses Mabhida Stadium against Zimbabwe last night.

Bafana Bafana Magic

Although the game was no walkover for the South African National team, there were certainly moments of sheer Bafana magic. Bafana Bafana scored three second-half goals with Siphiwe Tshabalala handing the World Cup hosts the lead with a stunning set-piece. Thulasizwe Mbuyane scored the second after a sweeping attacking move and Lucas Thwala’s injury-time header completed the rout.

But the real magic of the night was the vibe in the Moses Mabhida Stadium, as thousands of Bafana Bafana fans and a few Zimbabwe fans walked for miles ( the parking was soooo far way) through the humid summer night, blowing their vuvuzelas, waving flags and making new friends.

Vuvuzelas of Every Size

Inside the Moses Mabhida Stadium the atmosphere was electric – vuvus of every shape and size; flags, and football shirt and t-shirts and caps got the singing dancing Bafana fans going.

The soccer, well the first half was not good – the second half showed promise. Our boys are going to work hard at their camp in Brazil.

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Bafana Bafana Training in Durban

Durban fans have their vuvuzelas ready to cheer Bafana Bafana tonight in the friendly against Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

And I will be there – my first night match at Moses Mabhida and my fist look at the local Bafana Bafana squad in the steaming Durban summer heat.

Bafana 6 – Swaziland 2

During the friendly when South Africa eased past Swaziland 6-2 in a practice match against Swaziland on the weekend at the Chatsworth Stadium, one could already see some kind of shape, especially in the midfield where the South African team has just come to pieces in the past.

Parreira Expected to Field the Same Side

Parreira is expected to field the same side that started against Swaziland, with Katlego Mphela once again leading the line. The striker will be the focus of Zimbabwe’s defence according to Thomas Sweswe.

“Mphela has proven to be a quality striker and his scoring record bears testimony to that. If left unattended he can be a pain in the neck but we want to mark him out of the game,” the Kaizer Chiefs defender told Football365.co.za.

Bafana have been in Durban since two Fridays ago with Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira (CAP) focusing heavily on trying to get the players to play a possession game. This camp ends after tonight’s game and then there is another, heavy-duty one in Brazil in March.

Zimbabwe Squad no Pushover

The Zimbabwean Squad is not going to be a pushover. They are lead by Mamelodi Sundowns midfield general Esrom Nyandoro and contains plenty of other players based in South Africa playing for the top PSL teams.

Tickets available at Computicket – Via Checkers.

Kickoff: 8.30 pm.

Picture: Bafana Bafana Training in Durban football 365

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Carlos Alberto Parreira (CAP) has announced his locally based squad, and as it always happens, some people are happy, others are not, but at least we can see who he has in mind for the Bafana Bafana World Cup Team.

This 29-man squad will be heading to Durban for a training camp from 15 – 28 January to work with their Brazilian coach.

According to football365.com There are no real surprises in the local-based set-up, with Siyanda Xulu and Thulani Serero being awarded their debut call ups.

Matthew Pattison’s move back to South Africa seems to have paid off as the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder has been given a chance by Parreira.

Mabhuti Khenyeza has been dropped from the squad and Orlando Pirates right winger Dikgang Mabalane was again overlooked, along with veteran defender Mbulelo Mabizela and left-flanker Dillion Sheppard.

Check out football 365.com for the full team.

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Well we know how the Final Draw turned out – terrible for South Africa but here are the groups for the 2010 World Cup, in case anyone doesn’t know yet. And the Official Match Schedule.

France and Uruguay are two former World Cup winners and Mexico is known as a very strong team, but South Africa will have to rely on the wide experience of coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and the passion and skill of Bafana Bafana if we want to avoid the humiliation of becoming the first host team in World Cup history to get knocked out in the first round.

Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Republic, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana,
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile

South Africa’s Matches

11 June 2010 4.00 pm South Africa v Mexico at Soccer City, Johannesburg
16 June 2010 8.30 pm South Africa v Uruguay at Loftus Versveld, Pretoria
26 June 2010 4.00 pm South Africa v France at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
26 June 2010 4.00 pm Winner Group A v Runner Up Group B at Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth
27 June 2010 8.30 pm Runner up Group A v Winner Group B at Soccer City, Johannesburg

Matches at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban

Sunday  13 June Group D Germany v Australia
Wednesday 16 June Group H Spain v Switzerland
Saturday 19 June Group E Netherlands v Japan
Tuesday 22 June Group B Nigeria v South Korea
Friday 25 June Group G Portugal v Brazil
Monday 28 June Round of 16 Winner Group E v Runner Up Group F
Wednesday 7 July Semi Final Winner Quarter Final B v Quarter Final D

Official Match Schedule of the 2010 FIFA World Cup

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