Vuvuzela South Africa

Bafana Bafana players and new coach Pitso Mosimane  are confident that they are going to beat the Black Stars of Ghana on Wednesday night in the international friendly at Soccer City.

Coach Pitso Mosimane is Confident

According to football365 Mosimane insists he is in a confident mood ahead of the showdown, despite stating that the Black Stars would provide a true reflection of how well Bafana have progressed.

“I am looking for continuity. We all know how good Ghana are. They were the best African side at the World Cup, but I believe we can beat them,” he said.

Teko Modise Wants to Pull off a Win

Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana midfielder Teko Modise has told the Siya crew that the team wants to pull off a win for in honour of the host nation, who contributed to the success of the tournament.

“We ended on a high note and we have to start on a high note as well. We have to do it for the nation that has always supported us. We also have to make sure we are continuing with our winning ways. We need to keep on doing well as we prepare for the qualifiers. It is good to always play well and win,”

Black Stars of Ghana have a Strong Team

Ghana have brought 12 of their World Cup stars, including goalkeeper Richard Kingson, captain and defensive hardman John Mensah, the classy young striker Andre Ayew, plus the impressive Kevin Prince Boateng who proved a handful for some of the best defenders in the World Cup, and will give Mokoena and company plenty to think about

Image: Teko Modise socceladuma

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New head coach Pitso Mosimane has announced his Bafana Bafana squad to play Ghana’s Black Stars in a friendly on 11 August at Soccer City.

Mosimane has retained captain Aaron Mokoena, who had been expected to be axed. MacBeth Sibaya also makes the cut despite Mosimane saying recently that some old Bafana players, like Sibaya, might not make it to the team.

Those in the know believe that this promises to be an entertaining match, with the West Africans bringing most of the players that helped the team reach the World Cup quarterfinals.

Bafana Squad Reflects Pitso’s Vision

According to kickoff, Mosimane, though, says the squad reflects his vision. However, he is coy during questioning as to why there are a few old men in the squad and no specific youngsters.

Mosimane did add, that  he hadn’t selected youngsters like Andile Jali and Siyanda Xulu, who were both expected to make the squad as they were involved with preparations for the National U23 team with coach Shakes Mashaba.

The Bafana Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers – Itumeleng Khune and Moeneeb Josephs.

Defenders – Siboniso Gaxa, Morgan Gould, Bevan Fransman, Tsepo Masilela, Aaron Mokoena, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Sangweni and Innocent Mdledle.

Midfielders – Siphiwe Tshabalala, Daine Klate, Teko Modise, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Steven Pienaar, MacBeth Sibaya and Surprise Moriri.

Strikers – Katlego Mphela, Sthembiso Ngcobo and Bernard Parker.

Image: New Bafana Bafana National Head Coach Pitso Mosimane football 365

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South Africa hosts Ghana for a friendly at Soccer City on Wednesday the 11 th of August 2010. A match up between Bafana Bafana and the Black Stars is maybe not what new coach Pitso Mosimane wants right now.

But Mosimane is a  brave man and he tells football365 that “upcoming friendly against Ghana will provide a true indication of how far the national team has come.

Mosimane once again preached about the benefits of youth development, something which his predecessor Parreira took some flak for from SAFA back in 2007.

Ghana – 2nd in Africa

“Ghana is second in Africa and 23 in the world. How did they get there? Where are we in relation to that?

“Ghana focused on development and their senior side is reaping the rewards of investing in junior national sides,” said Mosimane, who warned the nation that it is time to “fasten our seatbelts and keep our composure.”

Coach Mosimane’s Four Year Plan

Bafana Bafana Head Coach Pitso Mosimane is a man with a plan, in fact a Four -year -plan.

Coach Mosimane presented his 2014 Vision on Thursday (22 July 2010) at a media briefing held at SAFA House in Johannesburg. The vision is to prepare and build a strong, competitive and respectable team for the country in preparation for the 2012 African Cup of Nations in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Mosimane applauded the PSL for their commitment and support in accommodating Bafana Bafana’s program in the League’s calendar. Pitso Mosimane said that his continuous engagement with the League is the approach he will apply to other stakeholders in the football fraternity.

SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe- Vision 2014

SAFA CEO Leslie Sedibe says the decision to kick off Vision 2014 with an international friendly match against Ghana demonstrates the Association’s commitment to improve the standard of South African football.

“The road to 2014 will not be an easy one. We are mindful of the challenges ahead, especially after having staged a very successful FIFA World Cup in our country. Our choice of opponents in this preparatory stage is to ensure that our players continue with the momentum of the World Cup, we are also sending a message to our team that there is no room for complacency when we face any of our opponents in the qualifiers. We must prepare adequately for Niger and Sierra Leone, just as we will prepare for the African Champions Egypt in our group,” explained Sedibe.

Bafana Bafana vs Black Stars Kickoff

Kickoff is at 20h35 and tickets for the match  at Soccer City go on sale on Friday 23 July at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers stores. Tickets cost R50.00 all round.

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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

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When Carlos Alberto Parreira returned as head coach, the writing was on the wall, Benni Mc Carthy would be asked to come back. The door to the Bafana Bafana team would once again be opened to the man who has scored 31 goals in 76 caps for his country.

Coaching Team in Agreement

According to football 365 Assistant coach Jario Leal says the recalling of McCarthy after nine months of self-imposed sabbatical was done in consultation with returning head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira along with Pitso Mosimane.

“The return of Benni was done after we spoke about it between myself, Pitso [Mosimane] and Parreira,” Leal said at a press conference on Thursday. “He [McCarthy] is the main striker in the country and this is the time to bring Benni back and see how he does in the last two games of the year. He is a good player and we trust Benni is going to help us in the way forward.”

Bafana Bafana Squad – Best Talent Available

Carlos Alberto Parreira has announced his intentions to be a no-nonsense coach by pulling no punches to ensure that the best available talent will from now on be used in the Bafana Bafana squad – and that means selecting people who can score goals.

SAFA has announced a radically new looking 24-man squad to represent Bafana in their upcoming friendly internationals against Japan and Jamaica.

U20 World Cup Amajita stars Kermit Erasmus, Daylon Claason and Darren Keet have been selected in the squad along with Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy and in-form SuperSport United winger Daine Klate.

Match Times

The first match against Japan will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 14 November 2009. Kick off is at 15h30.
The second match against Jamaica will be played at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein on the Tuesday, 17 November. Kick off is at 20h00.

Bafana Bafana Squad for Japan and Jamaica Friendlies

Goalkeepers:
Rowen Fernandez           Arminia Bielefeld, Germany
Moeneeb Josephs           Orlando Pirates
Darren Keet                        BIDvest Wits

Defenders:
Siboniso Gaxa                Sundowns
Bongani Khumalo         SuperSport
Morgan Gould                 SuperSport
Tsepo Masilela               Maccabi Haifa, Israel
Aaron Mokoena              Portsmouth, England
Anele Ngcongca              KRC Genk, Belgium
Lucas Thwala                     Orlando Pirates
Siyabonga Sangweni       Golden Arrows

Midfielders:
Daine Klate                            SuperSport United
Renilwe Letsholonyane    Kaizer Chiefs
Daylon Claasen                      Ajax Amsterdam, Holland
MacBeth Sibaya                    Rubin Kazan, Russia
Teko Modise                            Orlando Pirates
Elrio Van Heerden                 Blackburn Rovers, England
Siphiwe Tshabalala                Kaizer Chiefs
Kagisho Dikgacoi                   Fulham, England

Strikers:
Benni McCarthy             Blackburn Rovers, England
Katlego Mphela             Sundowns
Kermit Erasmus             Excelsior Rotterdam, Holland
Bernard Parker              FC Twente, Holland
Mabhudi Khenyeza        Sundowns

Photo: Benni Mc Carthy Football 365

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