Vuvuzela South Africa

Bafana Right Back Gaxa gets the ball.

Bafana Bafana 4- Thailand 0. Katlego Mphela, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker wet the roof of the new Mbombela Stadium in memorable fashion in front of 30,000 yellow-and-green clad fans. Mphela score twice.

It was Bafana Bafana all the way in Nelspruit on Sunday at the Bafana Bafana vs Thailand game. OK, we know that Thailand didn’t field the strongest team, but every devoted Bafana fan could see that the boys are getting it right.; they are putting good moves together; they are moving forward and they are taking strong, targeted shots at goal.

Final Build Up to the World Cup

The main thing is that Bafana Bafana are building confidence. They are scoring; they can feel that the country is behind them – this is a great start to the final build-up to the World Cup.

Carlos Alberto Parreira named a solid XI for the Bafana Bafana vs Thailand game with Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Thanduyise Khuboni  in midfield. Mphela started up front with Surprise Moriri just behind while Teko Modise and Tshabalala took up positions on the respective flanks.

The first goal came when Siphiwe Tshabalala curled a free-kick through the wall and into the bottom corner to give Bafana Bafana the lead. Read about the game on football 365.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira - Big Improvement

“There were a lot of positives to be drawn from the match. I don’t care about the quality of the opponent,” he said at the post-match press conference after the first of five tune-up games on home soil before the World Cup opener against Mexico on June 11.

“It’s a big improvement. We are now in our final stage of preparations and we are looking for performance and results.

“Results build confidence and as for the performance, the players look more comfortable on the ball. We still need more penetration but I feel it is coming,” the Brazilian said.

“We now have stronger opponents coming and they will give us a more physical challenge. We are in the final build-up phase but this is a good start.”

Parreira said the game against Bulgaria, Colombia and Denmark would all be progressively tougher.

Bulgarian coach Stanimir Stoilov has announced his squad that will play Bafana at Soccer City on May 24.

Image:Bafana Right Back Gaxa. football 365

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Today, at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, Bafana Bafana need to take on Thailand and score. Bafana need to put the ball in the net a few times.

Speaking to kickoff, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune says the energy created by the fans as the World Cup nears is proving a confidence booster for the team and he hopes the support that they provide will be influential in ripping apart Thailand at the new Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Come back of Teko Modise

Will this be the comeback of Teko Modise? The wonderboy midfielder of Orlando Pirates, who has been so badly out of form, feels confident after the training camps. He is also determined to keep his unblemished record as Bafana Bafana captain intact against Thailand.

Teko Modise spoke to kickoff: “Starting from the camp in Brazil my confidence started going up, especially knowing that I have been given the responsibility of leading the team. It shows that the coach has faith in me and my confidence has been growing all along.

“All I need to do is work on a couple of things like everyone else and hopefully when the tournament starts; I will be sharp and back to my normal form.”

Today, when Bafana Bafana take on Thailand at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, we will see whether Modise, probably one of the most talented players in South Africa, has got his mojo back. If Teko Modise can score and his confidence is boosted, Bafana Bafana’s World Cup prospects look a whole lot better.

Foreign-Based Players

Steven Pienaar who recently received Player of the Season at Everton is playing is in great form and Aaron Mokoena was one of the stalwarts of his team, Portsmouth FC yesterday in the FA Cup final.  Once all the foreign-based players have joined the Bafana Bafana squad the prospects of a win over Mexico on 11 June does not look so distant, in fact it actually looks very possible.

Locally Based Star Players

Two locally based star players Siphiwe Tshabalala and Siboniso Gaxa are eagerly anticipating South Africa’s international friendly against Thailand at the new Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit this (Sunday) afternoon, seeing it as an opportunity to sharpen their skills ahead of the June 11 kick-off of the 2010 World Cup and also cementing their place in the final 23-man squad.

Gaxa and Tshabalala

As one of the most consistent players in the national team setup, Tshabalala has all but ensured himself of a place in Carlos Alberto Parreira’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Gaxa is another star playerwho seems to have the inside track when it comes to being a first choice player, and the Mamelodi Sundowns defender is looking forward to the match against Thailand.

What about Benni Mc Carthy?

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira says Benni McCarthy will play no part in Sunday’s friendly against Thailand in Nelspruit.

Bafana Bafana Squad:

Goalkeeper:
•    91 Brian Baloyi
•    32 Itumeleng Khune
•    1 Emile Baron
•    1 Rowen Fernandez
Defender:
•    2 Siboniso Gaxa
•    23 Morgan Gould
•    77 Matthew Booth
•    19 Innocent Mdledle
•    21 Siyabonga Sangweni
•    32 Lucas Thwala
•    3 Tsepo Masilela
•    19 Bryce Moon
•    4 Aaron Mokoena
Midfielder:
•    18 Thulasizwe Mbuyane
•    15 Andile Jali
•    2 Benson Mhlongo
•    13 Lance Davids
•    25 Thanduyise Khuboni
•    34 Franklin Cale
•    6 Reneilwe Letsholonyane
•    34 Kagiso Dikgacoi
•    11 Teko Modise
•    12 Gert Schalkwyk
•    14 Siphiwe Tshabalala
•    6 Macbeth Sibaya
•    20 Elrio van Heerden
•    20 Steven Pienaar
Striker:
•    23 Richard Henyekane
•    21 Katlego Mashego
•    17 Katlego Mphela
•    29 Terror Fanteni
•    17 Benni McCarthy

Pic of Map to Umbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

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Bafana Bafana is going to get in one good match before they come home from the training camp in Germany. They are going to play Jamaica.

After the disappointment of China canceling the international friendly against the South African Football team at their training camp in Germany because of the volcanic ash, the Jamaican team (Reggae Boyz) have come to the party and they care due to play Bafana Bafana on Wednesday (28 April) at the Offenbach Kickers FC Stadium in Frankfurt, Germany. Kick off is at 20H30.

Jamaica and Bafana Last Played in November 2009

Jamaica is placed 78th on the FIFA rankings. Their last match with Bafana Bafana ended in a goalless draw in November last year in Bloemfontein.

SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe said it was important that they secured another match for Carlos Alberto Parreira’s side.

“We worked very hard within a very short space of time to arrange an international friendly match against Jamaica,” said Sedibe.

“Following the withdrawal of China we did indicate that talks were underway with two other member associations of FIFA, and Jamaica’s confirmation has put the team’s preparations in Germany back on track.”

Reggae Boyz Happy to Help Bafana Bafana

According to Football365.co.za the president of the Jamaican Football Federation, Captain Horace Burrell says the Caribbean nation are happy to be able to help South Africa.

The Reggae Boyz answered Bafana Bafana’s SOS call for an international friendly following the withdrawal of China last Friday.  The Jamaican team is scheduled to depart for Europe on Tuesday morning  (today) via Miami before landing in Germany on Wednesday in time for the game on Wednesday evening.

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Carlos Alberto Parreira

Carlos Alberto Parreira,  Bafana Bafana head coach, has announced  a 25-man squad that will travel to Germany for a training camp. The team departs on Monday (12 April) and will return to South Africa on Friday (30 April).

With spirits running high in the Bafana camp after a very successful training camp in Brazil, the boys seem to be looking forward to the European trip.

World Cup Squad

Commenting on the selected squad, Parreira said the door for the World Cup squad is still open for players who display tactical and social discipline. Orlando Pirates hitman, Katlego Mashego and Siyabonga Nomvete from Moroka Swallows made a national team come back ahead of the Germany training camp.

“Football is a game of moments, I have changed the players around a bit but I am still keeping the foundation of the team. It is unfortunate that we can’t take every player to the camp, and in any case the final list will have 23 players. The Germany camp is getting closer to the World Cup, so we have to show some improvements as a team, we can’t afford any retrogression, and as a result we have to improve further from our previous gains. The team has shape and we are now competitive tactically and physically,” said Parreira in the Safa Website.

The Bafana Squad for Germany

Goalkeepers – Itumeleng Khune, Moeneeb Josephs, Shu-Aib Walters

Defenders – Matthew Booth, Lucas Thwala, Siyanda Xulu, Siyabonga Sangweni, Siboniso Gaxa, Bongani Khumalo, Innocent Mdledle, Thabo Nthethe.

Midfielders – Teko Modise, Surprise Moriri, Gert Schalkwyk, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Lance Davids, Lebohang Mokoena, Andile Jali, Franklin Cale, Daylon Claasen, Thabo Nthethe, Katlego Mashego.

Strikers – Katlego Mphela, Siyabonga Nomvete.

Image: Carlos Alberto Parreira – safa

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Bafana Bafana have been playing like inspired warriors in Brazil with two wins and a draw in their practice matches against Volta Redonda, Fluminense and Boavista FC.

Bafana Score 8 Goals on Sunday

For the skeptics who believe that Carlos Parreira’s team do not know where the goal posts are, ask the Fluminese team – Bafana beat them 8 -0 on Sunday (14 March) with braces from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Kermit Erasmus. Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Tlou Segolela, Richard Henyekane and Dylon Claasen also put their names on the scoring sheet with a goal each.

The first practice match of the South African National Team’s Brazil training camp was against Volta Redondo on Saturday 13 March. They played to a goalless draw.
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The matches were played at the Granja Comary in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where the national team is holding a training camp.

Bafana Bafana vs Volta Redondo 0-0

In the match against Volta Redonda Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Parreira used two sets of teams for each half – giving almost every player a run. The match comes after an intensive week of training since the squad’s arrival in Brazil on Tuesday (9 March).

Midfielder Teko Modise captained the first half team, while defender Matthew Booth took the armband to lead the second half side.

Bafana Bafana had the better of exchanges and should have won the match but Franklin Cale missed a penalty in the 65th minute after a Volta Redonda player was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box

Bafana Bafana vs  Fluminese 8 – 0

Two goals each in either half from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Kermit Erasmus helped Bafana Bafana to an eight-nil (8-0) victory over Fluminense in the second training match played at the Granja Comary.

Once again head coach Carlos Parreira used two different teams in each half.

Different Teams in Each Half

He used the same sides that played against Volta Redonda on Saturday (13 March), making only one change – Lebohang Mokoena swopping places with Thulasizwe Mbuyane.

According to the safa website, the match started at a furious pace and Bafana Bafana showed much improvement compared to the first match.

Their passes were almost all spot on, and they kept shape and the ball possession was a marvel to watch.

But it took Parreira’s boys 40 minutes to find the back of the net with Siphiwe Tshabalala the scorer following a fine move which involved a couple of players. A minute later Tshabalala made it two nil and Bafana Bafana were in complete control.

In the second half, the second team continued where the first side finished. Five minutes after the restart Kermit Erasmus increased the lead to three nil (3-0), making it four nil (4-0) a minute later.

It was Reneilwe Letsholonyane’s turn to put the matter beyond doubt when he scored a beautiful free kick after he was fouled on the edge of the box.

Tlou Segolela, Richard Henyekane and Daylon Claasen completed the rout by getting their names on the score sheet – Claasen scoring from the penalty kick after Thulani Serero was brought down.

Bafana Bafana vs Boavista FC 2 – 0

In a pulsating football match against one of the top Brazilian clubs, Boavista FC, the South African Men’s Senior National Team (Bafana Bafana) defeated local Brazilian side Boavista by a score of two goals to nil (2-nil).

This was the third practice match of the team’s Brazilian training camp and was played at the Granja Comary.

Siphiwe Tshabalala

According to the safa website, the first goal came from Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 30th minute following a rebound from the Boavista goalkeeper. This goal is Tshabalala’s third in three games.

In the 54th minute Lebohang Mokoena made it two nil when he also found the back of the net.

So Far the Camp a Success says , Carlos Alberto Parreira

“On Tuesday (16 March) our training camp will be one week old and we have seen some improvement in the squad. We cannot ask for miracles and expect players to be super fit, but it is a process. I must say so far the camp has been a success. The outcome has been very positive” said Bafana Bafana Head Coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira. “We should have won the first game as well but, make no mistake, we are not there yet. We still have a lot of work ahead of us and we will continue working hard. I am happy about the wins but the main idea remains to grow this side to a formidable team that will be super fit, can keep shape, keep possession, and finish off strongly. My keepers have not been tested, which means we are doing something right in defense,” continued Parreira.

Bafana Play Belo Horizonte Today

Bafana Bafana’s next match is against Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte today on Wednesday, 17 March 2010 before they tackle Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, 20 March 2010.

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