Vuvuzela South Africa

Well, I don’t know about you all, but I’m a bit sick and tired of the Safa Elections and the ego dramas between Irvin Khoza and Danny Jordaan and their factions. The fans just want soccer to be run in an efficient and transparent manner in South Africa; we want more grass roots development and we want Bafana Bafana to start winning again.

Kirsten Nematandani was Elected as the President

For me the third candidate always seemed like a good compromise -  Kirsten Nematandani was elected as the president of the South African Football Association, and I really don’t care if he is Jordaan’s best friend – The Iron Duke must grow up and take it like a man.

I mean what kind of games is he playing, calling a media conference, leaving the media waiting for 45 minutes and then not turning up? He sends PSL CEO Kjetil Siem in to read a statement accusing Jordaan of crookery – on behalf of the PSL.
The man cannot even stand up and face the media and then he has to hide behind the PSL…

I think we have had enough of egos – we just want to play soccer!

I found a round up of some related stories – follow the links and you will get the picture.

PSL points finger at Jordaan

The Press briefing, which was meant to be chaired by Irvin Khoza today at the PSL offices in Parktown, started 45 minutes late and the events that unfolded during the briefing were as uncomfortable as the long wait.

The Iron Duke - Irvin Khoza

The message sent to the media had stated that Khoza was going to personally address the media on an urgent matter, but when PSL CEO Kjetil Siem kick-started the briefing, there was no sign of Khoza, in the process angering the media, who packed the room.

The PSL, as an affiliate of Safa, is clearly not happy with football’s mother body, Safa, and Danny Jordaan.

In a statement released to the media, in the middle of today’s PSL executive meeting, it is clear Jordaan is accused of dirty tactics in the run during the elections.

Khoza Must be a Man

Irvin Khoza must be a man and accept the fact that an unknown, Kirsten Nematandani, is the new president of the South African Football Association (Safa), writes iafrica.com’s Khaya Ndubane.

I have always known Irvin Khoza as man of honour, but his reported stunt to challenge the results of a democratically elected president — Kirsten Nematandani — on the basis that he will be ‘a pawn’ to Danny Jordaan leaves me cold.

How Khoza lost his grip – Football Transformation Forum Reveals Strategy

Ramatsiyi Moholoa from The Sowetan writes:

THE Football Transformation Forum has labelled its victory in securing all key Safa positions in the football governing body’s elections, as a “coup for the underdog.”

This according to FTF spokesperson Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana.

“We worked hard from day one in the LFAs (local football associations) to get the overwhelming support of Safa regions,” said Nonkonyana. “Some of us who worked underground for the ANC used some of the strategies we learnt during the apartheid era.”

Nonkanyana was appointed the new Safa deputy president at the drama-riddled elections on Saturday.
Limpopo’s Kirsten Nematandani was elected Safa president unopposed. Irvin Khoza was the hot favourite leading up to the election, followed closely by Danny Jordaan of the FTF.

The two withdrew from the race.

Jomo Sono - The "Black Prince"

Sono welcomes change at Safa

According to The Sowetan, CLUB owner and one of the country’s top football personalities Jomo Sono says the changing of the guard in the South African Football Association hierarchy could be good for the game.

Sono, dubbed the “Black Prince” in his playing days, is also a former Bafana Bafana coach.

He said he welcomed new Safa president Kirsten Nematandani, who was elected as the country’s top soccer official at a marathon Safa annual general meeting in Kempton Park on Saturday.

Said Sono: “I phoned Kirsten after his election to congratulate him. Sometimes change is good for football. I think this was a good time to change leaders and I hope he will benefit our soccer.”

Nematandani replaced Molefi Oliphant, who led Safa for 12 years. But the Limpopo-based official was the outsider and won the election after two heavyweights, Danny Jordaan and Irvin Khoza, eventually withdrew their challenge for the presidency at a tense meeting, leaving Nematandani unopposed.

Photos: Irvin Khoza – kickoff.com

Jomo Sono: Sowetan

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A goal from a cross from Henyekane by Katlego Mphela in the 65th minute gave Bafana Bafana a 1-0 victory over Madagascar in an international friendly at the GWK Stadium in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon. Besides this good news, the rest of the match was a rather boring affair.

I think South African fans have a right to be worried, that our National Football Team looks so unmotivated and uncohesive, lumbering along. OK the surface was a bit bumpy, but come on; these are all really talented, professional soccer players. They just do not be able to seem to get it together as a team and they seem to have no real motivation or pride.

43rd Minute Penalty was not a Penalty

And that penalty in the 43 minute against Madagascar stopper Kandy – from where I was sitting it was clearly outside the goal area and in my books, that is not a penalty.

Kandy however was yellow carded by Botswana referee Joshua Bondo. Maybe justice was served when he saved the resulting penalty attempt from Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala. Is Tshabalala the best spot kicker in the team?

Lucky Win for Bafana Bafana

And we can count this win a bit lucky, because at seven minutes to go, the Madagascans hit the post late in a very close goal. A shot from the right eluded Baron and came back off the post, striking the arm of Siboniso Gaxa as a Malagasy striker chested the ball back towards goal, but curiously, referee Bondo signaled a foul that only he saw.

In the words of football365.co.za “As the match spluttered to an anti-climactic end, it once again became clear that this is a side light-years away from putting up a respectable showing at the World Cup. Bafana may have won, but the manner of the victory and yet another unconvincing performance will do very little to silence critics of Joel Santana. “

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As Bafana Bafana skipper, Aaron Mokoena runs on to the pitch in Limerick for his 50th cap tonight, against Ireland, the South African National team will be hoping for a better result than their 2 –0 loss to Germany at Leverkusen on the weekend.

The Portsmouth defender-cum-midfielder, who has 92 caps in all for South Africa, moved past Lucas Radebe’s record of 43 matches as captain of the side earlier in the year, and should now stretch his record past the 50 mark.
The South African team is going to have to up their game significantly in spite of Coach Joel Santana’s up-talking a rather poor and lackluster display from Bafana Bafana on Saturday bight against an energised and slick German team.

Coach Joel Santana and captain Aaron Mokoena insist these friendlies are a learning process and the skipper is expecting to gain more international insight against Giovanni Trapattoni’s men.

Bafana Bafana Team Preview

According to football365, Bafana, who employed three defensive midfielders against the Germans, is set to drop a destroyer – most likely Bevan Fransman in favour of Siphiwe Tshabalala. But goalkeeper Shu-Aib Walters will play no part in the encounter after breaking his finger in training and Steven Pienaar is a fitness doubt for the visitors.
Meanwhile, the hosts will be without senior players Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne, Shay Given and Kevin Kilbane, who have been rewarded for their hard-fought win in Cyprus with additional time off.

First National Cap for Clifford Ngobeni

Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana will hand midfielder Clifford Ngobeni a first international cap when South Africa take on the Republic of Ireland in Limerick on Tuesday night.

According to Kickoff, Ngobeni, who has only ever featured in training matches for the national side before, is likely to be joined in the starting line-up by Siyabonga Nkosi and Mabhuti Khenyeza, although Richard Henyekane emerged as a possible starter, probably at the expense of Nkosi at training on Monday afternoon.

The Ajax Cape Town youngster will be part of an experimental, more attacking line-up against the under-strength Irish, who have sent the majority of their big-name players back to their respective clubs.

Photo: New Bafana Cap, Clifford Ngobeni. Kickoff.com

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Last night at Leverkusen, South African National soccer team Bafana Bafana lost 2 -0 to an energised and young German team, courtesy of goals either side of the interval from Mario Gomez and Mesut Özil.

And Bafana Bafana?  At times they were energetic(not too often) . Most of the time they looked flat-footed, playing much to far back, never never making  much of an impact on the German defense.

Playing in the red away kit, the German team was always moving forward in the international friendly in the BayArena. Coach Joel Santana and his ‘eight-man defense’ certainly did well to contain the Germans for much of the match, but offered next to nothing going forward, except for Stephen Pienaar who stood out. A goal in either half was enough for Joachim Loew’s side, who might have won by more but for some excellent goalkeeping from Bafana’s Rowen Fernandez.

My problem with Bafana Bafana was that they looked like a team who believed that they could not win – they had no confidence. Their set pieces were weak and with most of the team playing defense, the strikers never really had much support to really set up and execute any action. What can superb striker like Pienaar do when coach Santana fields an incredible three defensive-minded midfielders?

Let us hope Santana plays a bit of a different game on Tuesday night against Ireland in Limerick.

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Today South African National Football Team Bafana Bafana takes on Germany in Leverkusen.

According to Football 365.co.za, German defender Philipp Lahm believes the clash with South Africa will provide his teammates with the perfect platform to rediscover their form ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier with Russia and the return tie with Azerbaijan.

The German team is looking forward to improving in defense and attack in their match against South Africa and see it as a tough but winnable game. The football superpower is fourth on the FIFA rankings, with Bafana Bafana a disappointing 73rd

Group Four 2010 World Cup Leaders

As Group Four leaders in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying Rounds, Germany take on Azerbaijan in the return match in Hanover next Wednesday after beating them 2 – 0  in an unimpressive performance in Baku last month. The 2006 World Cup hosts face their biggest test of the qualification campaign so far in Moscow on October 10 when they take on Russia.

Bafana Bafana Confident of an Upset

After a good showing in the Confederations Cup, Bafana are confident of causing an upset, despite recently losing 3-1 Serbia in a warm-up match.

“We know our record against European opposition in Europe is not great but we are not going to let that worry us,” left back Siboniso Gaxa told his club Mamelodi Sundowns‘ official website.

The overall conclusion from the Bafana camp is that the side needs to start converting their goal scoring opportunities if they aim to record a victory.

Mphela and Parker up Front

Kickoff suggests that Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana is likely to start with Mphela and Bernard Parker up-front, with Khenyeza set to come in as substitute later in the match.

But it is in the midfield and the back where the Bafana Bafana might struggle,

Belgium-based defender Anele Ngcongca looks set to get his first Bafana Bafana cap in the absence of injured Matthew Booth. With Itumeleng Khune also injured, veteran Brian Baloyi may start in goal ahead of Rowen Fernandez although I still believe that Orlando Pirates in form goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs would have been a much better choice for this tour.

Even though plagued with injury, coach Joel Santana is spoilt for choice with experienced campaigners like Siyabonga Nkosi, Mabhuti Khenyeza and Bevan Fransmann available this time. He also has tried and tested players like Steven Pienaar, Bernard Parker, Benson Mhlongo and Simphiwe Tshabalala., so a good result might just be possible.

Amajita play Germany’s Under- 20s in Hamburg at 3.30pm.

Look at some Interesting Stats between Bafana Bafana and Germany.

Photo: Gaxa Siboniso – photo Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club

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