Vuvuzela South Africa

Pitso Mosimane - New Bafana Bafana Coach

It seems an open secret that a new Bafana Bafana coach has been named to take over from Carlos Alberto Parreira, and it is the Brazilian’s assistant Pitso Mosimane.

Gavin Hunt and Pitso Mosimane

Two coaches seemed to be in the running for the job were SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt and Bafana assistant coach Mosimane. Word is that by tomorrow (Thursday) Mosimane’s position will be formalised.

End of Carlos Alberto Parreira’s Contract

South Africa was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup in the first round, despite beating France 2-1 in their final Group A match.

Their exit brought to an end the coaching contract of Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira.

According to kickoff.com former SuperSport United coach, Pitso Mosimane will be announced as Bafana Bafana boss on Thursday.

2012 African Nations Cup

Mosimane is certainly Parreirra’s successor of choice as he assisted outgoing coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and his predecessor Joel Santana. He will be given the task of leading the national team to the 2012 African Nations Cup, as well as the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Also in the running has been Gavin Hunt who, after winning three successive Absa Premiership titles with SuperSport United, was many people’s favourite to replace Parreira, but it seems the SAFA bosses have opted for continuity instead.

Gavin Hunt Also a Contender

Sport24 readers, at least, appear to have been much more squarely in the camp of Gavin Hunt, the man considered to have been the other realistic candidate in SAFA’s thoughts as successor to Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira.

Hunt, who has steered SuperSport United to three Absa Premiership titles on the trot and been a TV studio pundit during the World Cup, would have been the preferred pick by some distance.

Mosimane  Take the Reigns

But it seems as if the heavy mantle of Bafana Bafana head coach is going to fall on the shoulders of the Kagiso-born, 45-year-old former Jomo Cosmos, Sundowns and Bafana (four caps) midfielder  Pitso Mosimane

Mosimane also managed SuperSport United, between 2001 and 2007, and held the national caretaker reins briefly in 2006, between the tenures of Ted Dimitru and then Parreira’s first in charge.

Bafana Bafana  – Warm- up Friendly in August

In August Bafana will play a warm-up friendly against a team still to be announced and in September they begin the Africa Nations Cup qualifying campaign. Their group includes defending champion Egypt, Niger, and Sierra Leone.

Image: Pitso Mosimane football365.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

A victory for either South Africa or Uruguay this evening at Loftus Versveld in Tshwane (Pretoria) will certainly go a long way to booking a place in the Round of 16.

All four teams are tied for first place in Group A with one point apiece, so the race for the top two spots (and the berths in the next round that go with them) are up for grabs.

Bafana Bafana vs Uruguay – Make or Break Game

We know that a team needs five points to clinch a second-round spot. If that is true, this is a make-or-break game that neither South Africa nor Uruguay can afford to lose.

A victory would propel one nation into first place in Group A with one game to go and put them on course to the round of 16.

Parreira Will Make Some Changes to Line-up

Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira admits that he may make a couple of changes to his line-up for the clash with Uruguay.

Lucas Thwala was substituted at half time of the opening match against Mexico and many expect Parreira to start with Tsepo Masilela at left back. (Careful – he has a yellow card).

Although Bafana Bafana may be riding a wave of optimism inside the host country, Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s South Africa will face a tough task against Uruguay who showed that they possess the ability to contain teams and launch dangerous counter-attacks in their opening game against France.

Uruguay Coach Oscar Tabarez

Uruguay may be regretting playing such a defensive game against a rather feeble France, but Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez has hinted that against South Africa they will be more adventurous compared to that safety-first approach.
Uruguay have been preparing in Kimberley, a town famous for the surrounding gold mines, but it is goals that Uruguay want after their stalemate with France hence Tabarez’s decision to go with an extra striker in Edinson Cavani.

For Uruguay, the key player is Diego Forlan, as the Atletico Madrid star remains their most dangerous striker and the focal point of their attack. If he’s on his game, then it could be a rough time for Bafana Bafana.

Captain Aaron Mokoena – 16 June Youth Day

The clash takes place on a day when it’s a public holiday in South African in remembrance of Soweto uprising or Soweto riots. This day is called Youth Day, and is named like that following a series of clashes in Soweto on June 16, 1976 between black youths and the then South African authorities.

“The match will be played on a special day for South Africa – Youth Day – and it will be very good to win on the day. This is a day which all South Africans remember and playing this match on this day means a lot to us as players and some of us would not have been here were it not for the sacrifices of many who came before us. As for Uruguay, they are very experienced side, they defend very well and have fantastic two strikers among them Diego Forlan who is full of confidence. But we have done our homework, and we are looking forward to the game,” said captain Aaron Mokoena on the safa website.

Killer Mphela

The South Africans who had the upper hand in their match against Mexico were overwhelmed by nerves and high expectations, because they has some very close shots at goal, especially the last one from Killer Mphela who watching in agony as his shot shaved the upright.

Bafana Bafana will be wanting to build on the confidence they gained from the draw against Mexico in their first World Cup Match.

Group A Still Wide Open

Competition in Group A is still wide open after both matches last week ended in ties, so South Africa and Uruguay will approach their game in Pretoria with a sense of intent. Bafana know that is is the match they need to win.

Least we forget, Carlos Alberto Parreira is on a 17 games unbeaten run, and you just don’t oppose that kind of run until it is officially ended.

Uruguay and South Africa have met twice before with the South Americans winning one match and the other ending in a draw.

More Complaints – Vuvuzela, Jabulani and now Altitude

According to website breakingfootballnews, the Jabulani has been criticized but Germany players who have trained with it for six months showed little side effects as they beat Australia 4-0 in their opening game, while the latest complain over the tournament being staged in South Africa has been the high altitude venues which players are claiming to be unplayable.

Suspension Watch  for Bafana Bafana vs Uruguay – Yellow Cards

Kagisho Dikgacoi and Tsepo Masilela earned yellow cards in South Africa’s previous match. If either one of them receive a yellow card against Uruguay, they will be suspended for South Africa’s final game of the group stage.
Diego Lugano and Mauricio Victorino are in a similar predicament for Uruguay. Also, Nicolas Lodeiro is suspended for Uruguay against South Africa.

Day 6 – 2010 World Cup Matches

Honduras vs. Chile – 15 Jun 1:30pm (local time GMT+2)
Spain vs. Switzerland – 15 Jun 4:00pm (local time GMT+2)
South Africa vs. Uruguay – 16 Jun 8:30pm (local time GMT+2)

If you are going to any of the matches you’ll want to know what FIFA expects from you, so have a look at the Stadium Behaviour article and read how to take care of Vuvuzela lips.

If you’re not going to the match, you can download the iVuvuzela for iPhone and blow it at home or come and tweet with us @uvuvuzela

Popularity: 5% [?]

Katlego Killer Mphela

Bafana Bafana vs Denmark today. The two sides meet in Atteridgeville today in what will be the last chance for the coaches of both sides – Carlos Alberto Parreira and Morten Olsen – to experiment ahead of next week’s kick-off.

After yesterday’s injuries to both Rio Ferdinand and Didier Drogba both Bafana Bafana and Denmark will have to walk the fine line between playing a hard game and not getting themselves injured.

Kickoff 11 June at Soccer City

South Africa open the 2010 World Cup against Mexico on June 11 at Soccer City in Johannesburg and will meet Uruguay and France in Group A, while Denmark is pooled in Group E alongside Holland, Cameroon and Japan.

Siyabonga Nomvete –  Need a Positive Result

Although Parreira says the performance is more important than the result against a Danish side 47 places above Bafana on the FIFA rankings, veteran striker Siyabonga Nomvete pinpoints the need for a victory. “This is our last warm-up and we cannot afford to finish with a negative result.”

Katlego Killer Mphela – It Will be a Tough One

According to fellow striker Katlego Mphela : “This is the last opportunity for Bafana to capture the hearts of all South Africans so we must go for the kill on Saturday.”

On  football 365.com Bafana Bafana striker “Killer” Mphela says that he is expecting the final World Cup warm-up opponents Denmark to pose a stern test to the host nation’s abilities just a week before the start of the finals.

“We are well aware that this is the last opportunity for us to win the hearts of all South Africans and we will go for the kill on Saturday,” the Mamelodi Sundowns striker said.

“The team is gelling and the most important thing for us ahead of the Word Cup is that we are able to keep possession and score.

“We expect a tough one against Denmark, who will also want to win to build more (momentum) in their camp.”

Denmark Lost First Warm-up 1-0 to Australia

What will make the South Africans feel a bit happier about this Bafana Bafana vs Denmark encounter is that Denmark lost their first warm-up in South Africa 1-0 to Australia last Tuesday in a match where both teams struggled with the altitude.

Coach Morten Olsen expects a big improvement from his attack today in Tshwane: “To come away with a positive result we must do much better in front of goal. We had a lot of possession against Australia, but that does not matter in football.”

Injured Danes

However, Olsen will have to make do without a few injured players, including Wolfsburg midfielder Thomas Kahlenberg, Feyenoord striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, defender Simon Kjaer and striker Nicklas Bendtner.

Park and Ride for Bafana Bafana vs Denmark Ticketholders

Bafana Bafana’s final preparation match against Denmark ahead of the World Cup has been sold out with fans attending the match on Saturday being offered free park and ride and park and walk services to the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe stadium.  28,000 tickets were snapped up shortly after going on sale

Only fans with valid tickets will be able to use the service which will be in operation from 10am until 6pm and are located at the Tshwane Events Centre on Church Street and at the Ga-Mothakga Resort in Atteridgeville.

Image: Katlego Killer Mphela - football 365.com

Popularity: 5% [?]

Bafana Bafana Head Coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira has called on fans to be loud and proud and blow their vuvuzelas at Bafana matches. He even likens the vuvuzela to Bafana’s 12th man.

Vuvuzelas and Rugby at Orlando Stadium

For those who do not yet know what a vuvuzela is, well they haven’t watched a South African soccer match. And after the two rugby Super 14 semi and finals at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto the past two weekends, there is talk that the rugby fraternity is going to lobby for the use of vuvuzelas in rugby stadiums as well.

The Recent Comrades Marathon was run to the blast of vuvuzelas all the way from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. In fact the Vuvuzela has become a symbol of sport and hero’s and encouragement and support. It is a way of paying tribute to our heros and letting them know they are making us proud.

Vuvuzelas are about South African Pride

Vuvuzelas are certainly about South African pride. On football 365 Coach CAP says:  “The support, it touched us in the game against Colombia – the excitement, the tension.  “We need the vuvuzela. It is our 12th player and it will help us a lot.”

The Brazilian also vowed to make the host nation proud during the June 11 to July 11 finals.

He added: “Our goal is to go as far as possible in the World Cup. Our mission is to make the country proud.”

Image: Vuvuzelas at Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban. football 365.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

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% [?]