Bernard Parker – South Africa
Bafana Bafana will play an international friendly against neighbours Lesotho in preparation for their two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Central African Republic (CAR) and Ethiopia on June 8 and June 16 respectively. The friendly serves as a warm up for Lesotho as well ahead of their two difficult qualifying fixtures in June.
Lesotho are ranked 155th in the world and 41st in Africa. The minnows lie bottom of their qualifying group, with two points from three matches. The Crocodiles were drawn in a tough group consisting of Ghana, Zambia and Sudan. However, they are unbeaten at home, drawing 0-0 with Sudan before going on to hold Zambia to a 1-1 draw. They lost in their only away travel to Ghana, 7-0.
In their last encounter they mounted a late rally to snatch the 1-1 draw against 10-man Zambia in a dramatic clash in Maseru. After Collins Mbesuma opened the scoring, Litsepe Marabe who had given Zambia’s defence a torrid time in the first half danced past two defenders to deliever an unstoppable volley in the last minute of the game to deny Herve Renard’s side the three points. This match will be a build-up for Lesotho’s trip to Ndola where they will face Zambia on June 8. They then host Ghana in Maseru one week later.
Bafana Bafana climbed six places to 56th in the latest FIFA world rankings. South Africa, who beat Central African Republic (CAR) 2-0 in their last match, a World Cup qualifier in Cape Town in March, also rose two positions to ninth among African nations. A 33rd minute strike by Thabo Matlaba opened South Africa’s account, while a second half finish from Bernard Parker secured the win and their first ever win in the Mother City. Igesund’s men sit second in Group A on five points from their three matches, behind Ethiopia who top the group with seven points.
Bafana started the qualifiers with a 1-1 home draw against Ethiopia and a 1-1 draw away to Botswana under ex-coach Pitso Mosimane. South Africa have two away matches in Group B against the Central African Republic on June 8 in Yaounde, Cameroon and Ethiopia on June 16 in Addis Ababa. Their last match will come in early September at home to Botswana. Midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi and defender Tsepo Masilela have been withdrawn from the squad for this friendly and the two qualifying games.
Dikgacoi tore his calf muscle ligaments when his club Crystal Palace returned to the English Premier League with a 1-0 win over Watford in the Championship play-off final on Monday. Masilela was withdrawn for planned knee surgery after his season finale for Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final last Sunday. Slovakia-based Ricardo Nunes will replace Masilela and join the rest of the squad on Wednesday while Gordon Igesund has not decided whether to replace KG.
Igesund had already been forced to leave out Morgan Gould, Siyabonga Sangweni and Thabo Matlaba through injury, while Siyanda Xulu had recently returned from injury and was declared not fit. There are 20 home-based players in the squad plus two from Sweden, and one each from England, Belgium and Slovakia.
Bafana should have little problems in Maseru and a comfortable win is tipped.
Bafana Squad
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs, capt), Senzo Meyiwa (Orlando Piates), Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa, Tefo Mashamaite, Eric Mathoho (all Chiefs), Bevan Fransman (SuperSport Utd), Tebogo Langerman (Sundowns), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk/BEL), Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic), Ricardo Nunes (Zilina/SLO)
Midfielders: Daine Klate, Oupa Manyisa, Thandani Ntshumayelo, Tlou Segolela (all Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Chiefs), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace/ENG), Dean Furman (Doncaster/ENG), Richard Henyekane (Sundowns), May Mahlangu (Helsingborg/SWE), Thuso Phala {Platinum Stars)
Strikers: Katlego Mashego (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (Chiefs), Tokelo Rantie (Malmo/SWE)
