Vuvuzela South Africa

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has announced his 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. South Africa will play Mexico at Soccer City in Johannesburg on 11 June.

After the training camps and fitness regimes and international friendlies, the coach has cut the Bafana Bafana squad to the regulation 23-man squad.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira Talks About Bafana Bafana

Coach praises all his players and said how sad he was to leave some of them behind, but FIFA has rules and they had to obey. He talked about the Vision the Boyz have – the vision of the World Cup. “Coach, make us proud”. He delivered the message to Bafana Bafana to make the people proud. He wanted the game in Soccer city. I love the Vuvuzelas. The vuvuzelas help us a lot. The vision of the Boys is to make this country proud.

Now is the time for competition. One more last game. Winning is important, but performance is very important too, Game against Denmark is important. Team has shape and they are ready for the competition. Last four games average three goals per game.

We have to respect everybody but we don’t have to fear anybody.

All of them deserve to be there.

Five that are left out:

Benni McCarthy

Rowen Fernandez

Bryce Moon

Innocent Mdledle

Franklin Cale

Final 23-Man Bafana Bafana squad

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United)

Defenders: Matthew Booth, Siboniso Gaxa (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Kaizer Chiefs), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia)

Strikers: Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Netherlands)

Popularity: 11% [?]

Bafana Bafana vs Colombia turned out to be an all-penalty affair as the home team pulled off a 2-1 win at a packed Soccer City on Thursday night.

Teko Modise and Katlego Mphela netted from the spot to keep South Africa’s World Cup preparations on track, cancelling out Giovanni Andrés Moreno’s converted penalty.

Well I don’t know if the South Americans are just difficult or if the Kenyan ref was a bit uncertain or inconsistent or if there was a communications problem, but this was a very messy game, with players – mostly Bafana Bafana flying through the air and three Colombians stretchered off the field and more yellow cards than I’ve seen for ages.

Khune Injured; Two Penalties and Many Yellow Cards

It was the injury to Bafana stopper,  Itumeleng Khune that was the focal point of the opening minutes, when he collided with Jackson Arley Martínez. Khune’s injury was the start of a frantic 15 minutes, in which two penalties were awarded and a number of yellow cards were dished out.

South Africa continued to dominate the possession stakes, passing the ball around nicely at the back and in the midfield. Still, despite dictating terms in the middle of the park, they were not penetrative enough going forward as they struggled to find decent goal scoring chances.

Second Half – Steven Pienaar and Kagiso Dikgacoi

After the break, Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira rang the changes. Steven Pienaar entered the fray along with Josephs and Kagiso Dikgacoi. Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Khune all made way.

The changes seemed to stunt Bafana’s forward momentum and to make matters worse, Tsepo Masilela left the field injured, with Lucas Thwala taking his place on the left flank.  Then to put the cherry on the cake, the Colombians who were very big and physical seemed to have poor Steven Pienaar off his feet more than on them at one stage.

Great play by Tshabalala; Mphela Scores

In the 57th minute, some great play between Mphela and Tshabalala saw the latter being tripped in the box just as he was about to pull the trigger.

The referee rightly pointed to the spot and Mphela stepped up to smack the ball to the right of the keeper who went the wrong way.

The second half fell into a bit of a lull as no team could really create any decent goal scoring chances. That was until the final five minutes when Colombia began to pile forward in their numbers to find an equaliser.

Benni Mc Carthy Gets a Run

The 63rd minute saw the introduction of Benni McCarthy but he could not really make his presence felt due to the heavy Colombian presence in midfield and the attacking backs that choked the majority of Bafana’s attacking moves.

Moeneeb Josephs – Great in the Goal

Second half substitute Moeneeb Josephs, stepped up to the plate, making two very important saves in the dying minutes of the match. First, in the 86th minute, he was able to turn away a Martinez shot from about 14 yards out diving low to his right to make the save.

The final period was a nerve-wracking mix of great Bafana defending and needless giving-away of free-kicks by the hosts. Especially, that tackle by Aaron Mokoena was reckless and really unnecessary.

Then in the last minute of the match Josephs was again at his best, diving full stretch to his left to tip a Hugo Rodallega shot over the crossbar.

I personally would prefer Josephs as a number one choice goalkeeper. He is much more active and alive and he is a great communicator.

Bafana Win at Soccer City

In the end Bafana were able to hold out and celebrated their first win in their first match at the newly revamped Soccer City.

There were some late scares for Bafana, but “Slimkat” Josephs and man-of-the-match Khumalo combined to ensure the World Cup hosts secured a win at Africa’s biggest stadium. And Head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s ninth victory in a row with Bafana Bafana.

South Africa (1) 2 (Modise 18’ pen, Mphela 58’ pen)
Colombia (1) 1 (Moreno 21’ pen)

Image: Teko Modise Scores – Bafana Celebrate. football 365.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Carlos Alberto Parreira began his second tenure as Bafana Bafana coach with a 0-0 draw against Japan in their international friendly encounter at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

Bafana Bafana Didn’t Lose

But Bafana Bafana didn’t lose! And there is already a sign of improvement in their play in spite of the upheaval of changing a coach and the whole Benni issue. The boys looked more  committed and motivated.

Carlos Alberto Parreira deployed what appeared to be an attack-minded 4-4-2 formation in his first match back in the hot seat, but it was the super fit and agile visitors who edged the contest in midfield and created the best openings.

Shinji Okazaki and Makoto Hasebe had the best chances of the match (before they ran into Moeneeb Josephs) while Parreira’s men came closest to scoring from Siphiwe Tshabalala’s effort from range.

Midfield Problems of Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana’s strike-force of Katlego Mphela and Benni McCarthy had to run themselves ragged to go and fetch the ball in the first half of the international friendly against Japan on Saturday- their fetchers were simply just not up to the job. Shabalaba was a workhorse – he tried to be everywhere but he cannot cover the whole pitch – as usual, of late,  Teko Modise under performed. I know this Bucs man is brilliant, but at the moment he is really off his game.

In the second half, there were only chances for Japan but the last 10 minutes suddenly saw Bafana Bafana came alive as they sought to snatch a win at the end.

Japan’s high-tempo approach and quick passing rattled the men in green and gold who at times seemed all over the pitch – passing to nothing, not marking the opponents, and playing back far too much.

Substitutions – Off the Bench

Both Parreira and Takeshi Okada tested their options off the bench and with just under 25 minutes left on the clock, Parreira made a triple change.

Tshabalala and Modise were withdrawn in favour of local boys Daine Klate and Elrio Van Heerden while Reneilwe Letsholonyane replaced the ineffective Kagiso Dikgacoi.

As can be expected the changes meant both sides lost shape and a scrappier game ensued, but, Bernard Parker, who replaced McCarthy, almost latched onto Letsholonyane’s long clearing pass in the 76th minute to open the scoring. Again the Japan number one was up to the task.

Three minutes later Okazaki made a smart turn in the area and Josephs had to make a great save to deny Japan the goal to break the deadlock.

Bafana stopman, Moeneeb Josephs deserved the Man of the Match award.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira – “We Have to Improve”

After the goalless draw with Japan, Bafana Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira spoke to football 365: “Putting everything together I consider the result as fair. We need to improve a lot of things, but we cannot do this all in three day session training, the world was made by Jesus Christ in seven days.”

“We had good organisation at the back, the Japanese had one chance. Organising wise we are okay, we need to have more possession now, we have to improve on the creative play and the shooting at goal, we need to put more pressure on our opponents in the box then we did today. But these things will come naturally with time,” he concluded.

Read Mark Herman’s 10 post-match points to digest after Bafana Bafana’s draw with Japan.

Image: Bafana Bafana vs Japan football 365.co.za

Popularity: 2% [?]

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: 19% [?]