Vuvuzela South Africa

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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We know that the Bafana Bafana squad is working hard in Germany, and now they have confirmed two good matches to sharpen their skills in the run-up to the World Cup

The Bafana Bafana team were having problems with the matches because of the flight problems in Europe due to the volcanic ash cloud.

With the 2010 World Cup less than 50 days away, South Africa have finally been able to confirm two friendlies against North Korea and China after negotiations with the Asian nations

South Africa will take on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on Thursday, 22 April. The match will be played at the SV Wehen Wiesbaden Stadium in Frankfurt. Kick off is at 18H00.

The second friendly international match will be against China on Wednesday, 28 April at the Offenbach Kickers FC Stadium, also in Frankfurt. Kick off is at 20H30.

Bafana Bafana Team Manager Sipho Nkumane says on safa website, the players will be awarded caps for both matches.

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The Bafana Bafana training camp in Germany has kicked off in earnest in the cold European winter weather. The Bafana Bafana squad is based at the Adidas Headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany and will be there until the 30th of this month.

Two Newcomers  in Bafana Bafana Squad – Siyabonga Nomvete and Katlego Mashego
Of the 25 players in the Bafana camp, only two are new  – Siyabonga Nomvete and Katlego Mashego, but physical trainer Francisco Gonzalez is not fazed about their level of fitness.

“The two players are doing well because they are in good condition. I spoke to the Moroka Swallows physical trainer and he told me that Nomvete was working very hard so they are both in good shape. Fitness is now crucial in the sport because modern football demands a lot out of the players. Previously skill alone and technique was enough to make one a good player, but now a player needs to be thoroughly prepared in terms of fitness because if you are not fit enough, you stand no chance on the field,” added Gonzalez on the Safa website.

North Korea Match Cancelled

City Press reports that Bafana Bafana have dropped North Korea from the teams they will play during their training camp in Germany this week after many demands were made by the side circled in Group G for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

Bafana were due to play North Korea on Tuesday but had to cancel the date late today after the Asians, who are on a training camp in Spain, allegedly demanded a lot of money from Safa and ordered that the South Africans should come to them in Spain.

Word is that Bafana Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is still hoping that North Korea change their minds and maybe travel to Germany to play them, as they are the only side to have qualified for the 2010 World Cup that Bafana Bafana would be playing during this camp in Germany.

Highlight of Of Germany Camp – Bafana Bafana vs China

The highlight of South Africa’s training camp, which runs until April 30, will be their friendly match against China on April 28.

The venue for the game has yet to be set.

Image: Bafana Bafana Squad at  Training Campin Germany from safa

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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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Two players have been dropped from the original Bafana Bafana Squad and replaced.  All but five are still to arrive  South Africa to prepare for the friendlies against Japan and Jamaica later this month.

Every young boy kicking a tennis ball around in a dusty township street dreams of wearing the  Bafana Bafana Jersey. I mean, playing for the senior national team at any sport, representing your country, must be the ultimate for any young sportsman or woman – but obviously not for Mamelodi Sundowns striker Mabhudi Khenyeza, who has gone awol – again

Replaced by Richard Henyekane

Khenyeza was part of the 24-man squad that was announced on Thursday (05 November 2009) but failed to honour the national team call-up. The striker also failed to answer any calls from the national team regarding his absence.

Golden Arrows striker Richard Henyekane will take Khenyeza’s place. Also out of the squad due to injury is Mamelodi Sundowns defender Siboniso Gaxa. He is replaced by Lance Davids of Ajax Cape Town.

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