Tag Archives: friendly-match

With the clock ticking down towards June 11 and the showdown against Mexico at Soccer City looming closer, Bafana Bafana now have the team to compete at the World Cup finals. That is the assessment of head coach Carlos Albert Parreria after his side had scored a record 5-0 win over minnows Guatemala in a one sided warm-up friendly played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on a cold Monday night. “It does not matter whether the opposition is not so strong. It is never easy to score five goals and that is something we have never done before,” said Parreira. “Technically we were not so good but we created chances and killed off the opposition. I could not have asked for more in that respect.” Parreria added Bafana, with one friendly left to play against Denmark on Saturday, are ready for the World Cup, which kicks off at the new Soccer City on June 11 when the hosts tackle Mexico in the opening Group A match. “We have a team. We have a shape and most importantly, we have an identity as South Africans. We now play the ball on the ground and keep possession. “We go into the World Cup with confidence and the spirits high. Our fitness level and physical condition will be as good – if not better -than any side in the World Cup.” Parreira will fine tune his side against Denmark at Atterdigeville’s Super Stadium on Saturday (2.15pm). Parreria said he was satisfied with the four matches Bafana have played in the last two weeks as he intensified his preparation programme. Bafana thumped Thailand 4-0 in the first match at Nelspruit on May 16, followed that up with a 1-1 draw at Orlando Stadium with Bulgaria and then defeated Colombia at Soccer City last Thursday before clobbering Guatemala. Since taking charge of the ailing Bafana last November, Bafana are unbeaten in 11 matches. Parreira has weaved his magic in seven months in charge and while he is right about the 5-0 win not being Bafana’s best performance, he assessed the friendly matches saying: “Our 1-1 draw against Bulgaria was our best display so far. “The 2-1 win over Colombia the toughest and this one (Guatemala) the biggest. We have improved throughout the campaign, especially the players who have been with me on both the camps to Brazil (in March) and Germany (in April).” Parreria will name his final squad of 23 players for the tournament on Tuesday morning as per Fifa rules. At present Parreira has 28 players in his squad. Parreria caused a lot of speculation by not playing controversial striker Benni McCarthy during Monday’s match, preferring to use Bernard Parker and veteran Siyabonga Nomvethe, as his second half substitutes. Parreria would not be drawn on whether McCarthy (32) will be part of his World Cup plans: “There was nothing wrong with McCarthy. I say nothing more until I announce the squad.” However, with only four strikers in his squad, Parreira is unlikely to send the West Ham United striker home, despite the fact he has been battling with a weight problem since he joined the camp earlier this month and has played only 20 minutes against Colombia. Parreria also said his star midfielder Steven Pienaar, who had a storming match against the Guatemalans, and the other overseas based players, will have to adapt. “I have played Pienaar in a couple of positions in the midfield to see where he is best suited to Bafana. The reason we have a shape and foundation is because I did not chop and change the players for every match and that shape stays for the World Cup.” It was a special night for Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena (29) who became the first Bafana player to reach 100 caps. Said the Portsmouth defender: “This was a big night for me. “It was a great honour being the first South African to win 100 caps and it means a lot to me.” He dedicated his 100 caps to his mother and Jomo Sono, the Cosmos coach, who spotted his talent as a raw 17-year-old. Mokoena also said Bafana were raring to go. He said the big difference with the new-look team is the attitude of the players. “The positive attitude of the players is fantastic and we are now making it easy for ourselves by scorning goals.” Striker Katlego Mphela scored two penalties but otherwise did not have a great night and his indifferent form is another reason for Parreria to keep McCarthy in the squad. The other goals came from Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Surprise Moriri and Parker. Source – Sapa Bafana Intentional Friendlies Bafana 2 – 0 Jamaica 28 Apr 10 Bafana 4 – 0 Thailand 16 May 10 Bafana 1 – 1 Bulgaria 24 May 10 Bafana 2 – 1 Colombia 27 May 10 Bafana 5 – 0 Guatemala 31 May 10 Denmark Intentional Friendlies Australia – Denmark 1 – 0 01Jun 10 Denmark – Senegal 2 – 0 27 May 10 Austria – Denmark 2 – 1 03 March 10 2010 World Cup Blog for the Fans

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Bafana & Denmark Friendly match overview