WEDNESDAY, 11.30AM:
BAFANA BAFANA are scheduled to play a number of matches as part of their preparations for the World Cup finals in France next June.
The South African Football Association (Safa) have also accepted invitations to play Austria and Denmark next year. They play Austria on May 31 in Vienna and Denmark in Copenhagen on June 3.
The preparations start next month with the game against France in Lens on October 11. On December 7 they play Brazil at Ellis Park. They will also play in the Confederation Cup in Saudi Arabia in December.
In February they will defend the African Nations Cup title in Burkina Faso. They are expected to play at least three games in the tounament. In May they play England in the Nelson Mandela Inauguration Challenge.
With the latest invitations, Bafana Bafana will play at least 11 matches.
SPORT BRIEFS
NATIONS CUP DRAW The draw for the 21st African Nations Cup finals in Bukina Faso next February will be held on Thursday.
MTN SENIORS THE MTN champions tennis tournament begins at Sandton Gardens on Wednesday. The first match starts at 7.30 pm with Pat Cash against Mansour Bahmri. This will be followed by a doubles match; Tim Wilkinson and Mel Purcell against Luis Clerc and Andres Gomez.
JANNIE’S RECORD FREE State flyhalf Jannie de Beer broke the Currie Cup individual record when he scored 46 points against Northern Free State at the weekend. De Beer broke the record of 38 held jointly by Lance Sherrell and Henry Honiball.
SA SURFERS IN SEMIS SOUTH AFRICAN surfers Byron Howarth and Greg Emslie advanced to the semi-finals of the RTP Buondi Pro at Praia Atlantico in Miramar, Portugal at the weekend.
KNOCKS OFF EARLY DAVID KNOX will return to Australia after the Natal Rugby Union agreed to release him from his contract. It is believed that Knox will be back with the Sharks next year.
WILLIAMS QUITS NORTHERN Transvaal coach John Williams will step down at the end of the season and will not stand for re-election for the 1998 season.