TUESDAY, 1.30PM:
SOUTH African Football Association president Molefi Oliphant shocked his audience at a press conference on Monday when he did not know the countries where Bafana Bafana overseas based players are plying their trades. In a conference called to announce tha cancellation of Bafana Bafana’s scheduled August 6 friendly in Cape Town, Oliphant made several faux pas.
Oliphant said midfielder Eric Tinkler, who plays for Bansley in England, was playing somewhere in Spain. Defender David Nyathi, who recently rejoined St Gallen in Switzerland, was also playing for a Spanish side. Midfielder John “Shoes” Moshoeu, who plays in Turkey, was playing in Greece and goalkeeper Andre Arendse, who recently joined Fulham in England, was somewhere in Europe.
Oliphant amused the audience when he denied Safa’s invitation to Nigeria to play in the Four Nations Cup.”As far as I am cocerned, we have not invited any country for the Four Nations,” said Oliphant, who was quickly corrected by general manager Dennis Mumble, who confirmed the invitation to Nigeria.
Another Safa official who sensed futher embarrassment called off the press conference.