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/ 29 May 2008

Bafana are ready, says Pitso

Now is the time for budding Bafana Bafana stars to stand up and be counted as South Africa take on Nigeria in a tough 2010 African Nations Cup qualifier in Abuja on Sunday. Kick-off is at 5pm South African time. There is no Benni McCarthy, and three midfield aces in Teko Modise, Delron Buckley and Lerato Chabangu are all nursing an assortment of injuries.

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/ 25 March 2008

‘Rock bottom’ Bafana tackle Paraguay

Seldom has a friendly international meant so much to 2010 Soccer World Cup hosts South Africa as that against Paraguay on Wednesday. Underperforming Bafana Bafana need a win to silence a growing band of critics, led by Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, Parliament sports committee chairperson Butana Komphela and several top first-division coaches.

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/ 8 February 2008

Perhaps there are some positives for Bafana

Although his new side failed to make it past round one at the Africa Cup of Nations, Carlos Alberto Parreira won’t be entirely depressed. Bafana’s performance at the tournament in Egypt in 2006 was marked by a medley of administrative foibles, disruptive player mutinies, pre-tournament shenanigans and sepulchral lethargy that showed on the field when they failed to score.

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/ 27 January 2008

Bafana thrashed by Tunisia

Veteran striker Francileudo dos Santos scored twice as Tunisia thrashed South Africa 3-1 on Sunday to go top of Group D in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. The Carthage Eagles have collected four points from two matches and lead on goals scored from Angola, who hit back in the second half to shock Senegal 3-1 in the first half of a double-header in Tamale.

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/ 18 January 2008

Mokoena’s task: Keep it simple

Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s tinkering in the two warm-up matches before the team leaves on Saturday for the African Cup of Nations in Ghana has raised eyebrows. How will captain Aaron Mokoena cope with his shift in position from central defence into a holding midfield role once the opposition become more serious about attacking Bafana?

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/ 15 January 2008

Parreira happy with Bafana preparations

With all the tension and trauma surrounding Bafana Bafana’s forthcoming test of strength in the African Cup of Nations, the man in the middle of the cauldron of emotions displayed his usual cool and composed demeanour on Tuesday. And Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira believes his Bafana squad are on course for their acid test in Ghana.

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/ 30 November 2007

SA ditch Benni for Nations Cup

South Africa have ditched star striker Benni McCarthy for the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana. Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira also dumped first-choice defender Bradley Carnell and midfielders Delron Buckley and Macbeth Sibaya from a 23-man squad named on Friday.

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/ 29 August 2007

Benni ends international exile

South Africa star striker Benni McCarthy will end a 19-month international exile when he plays against Zambia in Cape Town next weekend. The Blackburn Rovers striker, second highest English Premiership scorer last year, was included on Wednesday in a 22-man squad for an African Nations Cup Group 11 qualifier on September 9 at Newlands Stadium.