Formidable Bafana team to go Down Under
Bafana will play in Australia and New Zealand for their preparations.
THE best Bafana Bafana team has been selected by Head coach Gordon Igesund.
An 18-man squad will travel to play international friendly matches against Australia and New Zealand next month.
South Africa will face 2014 FIFA World Cup-bound Australia on Monday May 16 in Sydney at the ANZ Stadium at 19:30 Australian time (11:30 South African Time).
This will be followed by the clash against New Zealand four days later (Friday May 30) at 19:30 New Zealand time, 09:30 South Africa time in Auckland at the Mt Smart Stadium.
Whether all these players will be released from their clubs is another factor for the Bafana coach, but the best team was selected to take on the teams for these important friendly matches. They will play in a non-FIFA open window, and it will be up to the clubs whether they will release the Bafana players.
”These matches are an intergral part of the Association’s vision to have Bafana Bafana play against some of the top sides in the world. For us to have a strong Bafana Bafana, we will have to face these big footballing nations. We have already played the likes of Spain and Brazil, and we have lined up more high profile games, which we will unveil with time,” said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.
Bafana Bafana and The All Whites (New Zealand) last met in 2009 in the FIFA Confederations Cup which South Africa hosted. The home side won 2-0 in a match played in Rustenburg. The last clash with the Socceroos (Australia) ended in a 2-2 stalemate in London in 2008. Australia is using this match to finalise their preparations for the World Cup.
“Ï believe I have selected players capable of doing us proud Down Under in the two matches. We are also happy to have been given the opportunity to assist Australia in their preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup tournament in Brazil. This is a chance we could not miss. We hope our match will be of great assistance,” said Igesund.
“As these matches do not fall under the FIFA calendar dates, I hope we will get all the players that we would like to have for the two clashes.”
The squad assembles on Monday May 19. Bafana Bafana will have two training sessions on Tuesday May 20 and Wednesday May 21, before departing for Sydney, Australia on Thursday afternoon May 22.
The training sessions will be held at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
