Vuvuzela South Africa

Carlos Alberto Parreira, Bafana Bafana Coach

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira is optimistic about his team’s success against Japan. Bafana Bafana take on  Japan in a friendly international match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

And a Port Elizabeth Sangoma, Puseletso “Nkomiyahlaba” Maropane’, has predicted that Bafana Bafana will win by 2 –O.

Parreira – Bafana’s Biggest Challenge

Parreira’s biggest challenge will be in midfield where he needs to select a balanced unit that will give the necessary attacking impetus. And off course the strikers – who will he pair with Benni? Will it be Parker?

Bafana Bafana Can Win

Addressing a huge media contingent at the team hotel in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday (12 November 2009), Parreira said he believes his boys are up to it.

“We have to play our normal game against Japan, both sides have contrasting styles, but on the day it’s the team that will impose itself on the other that will win the match. We need to face this game with renewed confidence, we have to give our best and hope for a good start with a victory,” said Parreira.

Carlos Alberto Parreira

Bafana Bafana boss Carlos Alberto Parreira yesterday compared himself to former boss Joel Santana in a press conference.

“Me and Joel Santana are not too different, I just hope the players do not struggle to adapt to my way of doing things but our strength has always been technique, we cannot play physically because we don’t understand that style…we need to start winning matches again and building up a winning mentality starting against Japan,” said Parreira.
Captain Aaron Mokoena

At this media briefing, Parreira was flanked by Bafana Captain Aaron Mokoena and midfielder Elrio van Heerden – one of the trio of players in the national team who hail from Port Elizabeth. The others are Daine Klate and Kermit Erasmus.

“It’s really nice to be back home, and even better to be playing this match here in my hometown. I hope to get a chance on Saturday to also show what I can do in front of my home fans,” said Van Heerden.

Although Bafana Bafana have lost eight of their last nine matches – the win was against Madagascar! The boys seems to be full of confidence with a new (sort of) coach and brand-new Bafana jerseys. Oh and the Benni factor – wayward striker Benni Mc Carthy has been brought back into the fold to convert good play into points.

Japan Have Qualified for the World Cup

Japan have qualified for the 2010 World Cup and are on a reconnaissance mission to evaluate conditions in the host country ahead of the showpiece tournament.

Coach Takeshi Okada believes Bafana will offer his charges a stern test.

“We’re getting to play away, which is something we need to be doing,” Okada told reporters in Tokyo.

Image: Carlos Alberto Parreira, Bafana Bafana Coach – Safa

Popularity: 2% [?]

Well that’s the Bafana Bafana’s 16th new jersey in 11 years and let’s hope it is the lucky strip that will take the team past the opening round of the 2010 World Cup.

New Bafana Bafana Jersey

According to Kickoff, “the New Bafana Bafana kit is not much different from the current one, other than it being a whole lot sleeker and bearing a small South African flag, it was the one chosen from 21 alternatives by the Bafana players and technical team.” But if the new jerseys makes the boys feel new and good and they play well, the Bafana fans will agree, it will be well worth it, even if the jerseys need to be made with solid gold thread!

Players will wear the new strip for the first time on Saturday in the friendly against Japan in Port Elizabeth when the new look Bafana team under the guidance of coach Carlos Alberto Parreira runs onto the pitch.

Adidas Bafana Bafana Jersey Campaign

You have maybe seen the ad on some soccer websites the one with the hand that comes out of the yellow jersey  and signs on it? Well,  jersey sponsors Adidas have unveiled a new initiative to get as many of the country’s citizens to sign a massive replica  of the new Bafana Bafana strip – almost the size of a soccer pitch – before the tournament kicks off.

No News Yet of Starting Line-up for Saturday

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is keeping is team for Saturday’s friendly against Japan in Port Elizabeth close to his chest, but it looks like  strikers Benni Mc Carthy and Kermit Erasmus are on fire – maybe Bafana fans will be able to shout Laduma ! once more.

Photo: The New Bafana Bafana Jersey – Ready for the 2010 World Cup - Kickoff

Popularity: 20% [?]

Carlos Alberto Parreira is the new coach for the South African National Soccer Team. After two weeks of rumours and denials, the South African Football Association (SAFA) made the announcement just after 7pm at OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg.

During this Bafana coach fiasco, it seemed all that the loyal and passionate supporters were agreed upon, is that they were happy that Joel Santana was out of the picture.

Most South African fans have been calling for a local coach – Clive Barker, Gordon Igesund, Gavin Hunt or even Pitso. Nobody wanted another Brazilian coach.

Bafana’s Only Coach

But it seemed that the die was cast long before Joel Santana even stepped down. Remember when Safa and Santana were denying that Pappa Joel was leaving? Remember that this voice of Parreira drifted across the ocean from Brazil saying that he was standing ready to step into the position IF he was the only coach?

So Who is Carlos Alberto Parreira?

Carlos Alberto Gomes Parreira was born February 27, 1943, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Parreira supports Fluminense, and he has won two important League titles for the club: The First Division Brazilian Championship in 1984 and the Third Division in 1999.

Parreira is noted for having been one of only two coaches that has led four national teams to the World Cup: Kuwait in 1982, United Arab Emirates in 1990, Brazil in 1994 and 2006, and Saudi Arabia in 1998. The other coach, Bora Milutinovic, surpassed this record when he led a fifth team in 2002. He was also involved to some extent with the 1970 championship team for Brazil, which he claims was an inspiration for him to aspire to be a national football coach.

FIFA World Cup Matches Record

Parreira has coached national squads in 21 games in FIFA World Cup competition. Parreira’s coaching record is 10-4-8 (Wins-Draws-Losses). His teams have scored 27 goals and conceded 29.

Interview with Carlos Alberto Parreira on Fifa Website

Photo: Carlos Alberto Parreira deposintonaweb

Popularity: 3% [?]

“Bafana threw everything forward near the end but the defence of Iceland, a country that would fit into Soweto and with just 350 000 people, held firm.”

Bafana Bafana Team Showed Some Improvement

On Tuesday night the 2010 World Cup hosts suffered a 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Laugardalsvollur.

Although the Bafana Bafana team showed glimpses of improvement throughout the match; they started off well, attacking and passing the ball with intent.

Changed Starting Line-Up

Santana bowed to pressure and named a much changed line-up to the side who lost in Norway with Franklyn Cale, Sthembiso Ngcobo, Richard Henyekane and Siyabonga Sangweni all getting starts. Iceland, who are ranked a lowly 96th in the world, scored in the 50th minute through Veigar Pall Gunnarsson.

Henyekane and Modise More Lively

Richard Henyekane and Teko Modise were certainly livelier last night and  created some problems for Iceland’s defence.

Moeneeb Josephs played a great game until five minutes after half time when Gunnarsson bent a shot with the outside of his foot on the edge of the box after Mokoena failed to clear properly and goalkeeper Josephs got caught going the wrong way.

Six Changes in the Second Half

A desperate Joel Santana made six changes in the second half, but Bafana’s  left their shooting boots at home, with Teko Modise missing two good chances in the second half

I like this quote from kickoff.com: “Bafana threw everything forward near the end but the defence of Iceland, a country that would fit into Soweto and with just 350 000 people, held firm.”

Speculation over Santana’s Fate Continues

Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 loss to Iceland follows their 1-0 loss to Norway on Saturday and means that speculation over an imminent chop for coach Joel Santana will continue, even though Safa made their voice heard before the match to try and put a lid on the the growing discussion over a possible sacking and the replacements for coach Joel Santana.

Popularity: 1% [?]

It is with a heavy heart that I am attempting to write this South Africa vs Iceland Preview. Bafana Bafana has lost seven times in a row, and without sounding negative (ok, I am sounding negative), I do not have much hope for today’s match, even though Iceland is ranked 96.

Not Only Joel Santana

It is not just the much-vilified coach Joel Santana; it is the Bafana Bafana team as well. I watch those boys playing PSL matches and then I see them on the pitch in their Bafana colors and it is as if zombies have invaded their bodies – they are totally different players.

South Africa suffered their seventh defeat in eight games against Norway on Saturday and never looked like troubling the European side’s goal.

As a matter of fact, just over four years ago South Africa lost 4-1 to Iceland in an international friendly but just one member of that Bafana Bafana starting line-up is set to feature on Tuesday night- the  Captain Aaron Mokoena.

Bafana Bafana Team

The 2010 hosts were underwhelming in Saturday’s clash with Norway and most worryingly of all, didn’t look like improving on their woeful scoring record. The strike force on Katlego Mphela and Bernard Parker were isolated up front and Teko Modise again failed to prompt any meaningful forays into the final third say football 365.com

But with Steven Pienaar ruled out with a knee injury, Santana’s attacking options in midfield are limited to Elrio van Heerden, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Modise and Franklyn Cale, who made his debut on the weekend.

It is a similar story with the forward line as although Richard Henyekane offers pace, he and Mabhuti Khenyeza and Sthembiso Ngcobo lack the international wherewithal to trouble international class backlines.

Iceland – Seasoned International Players

Iceland on the other hand, although not well ranked, has a line-up of seasoned internationals who might just teach Bafana Bafana a lesson or two. I guess the best we can hope for is a draw – the same result South Africa achieved against Iceland way back in 1998.

Emile Baron or Moeneeb Josephs

Meanwhile goalkeeper Emile Baron has been declared fit to play against Iceland. This comes after he picked up a minor finger injury at training on Friday, so will Santana use him or the in form Moeneeb Josephs who saves the team from a certain humiliation with his sharp stopping on Saturday?

South Africa take on Iceland this evening (Tuesday) at the Laugardalsvollur Stadium in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Kick off is at 20h10 South African time.

Popularity: 1% [?]