Vuvuzela South Africa

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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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

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