/ 8 October 1997

Barker takes team to France

WEDNESDAY, 1.30PM:

BAFANA BAFANA coach Clive Barker took the 10 locally based Bafana Bafana players through their paces at the Rand Stadium on Tuesday before they departed for France on Tuesday afternoon.

“I want every player to be razor sharp as we intensify our preparations for next year’s World Cup finals,” said Barker.

He said he is worried about vice-captain Sizwe Motoung, who has been out of action since the Congo match. “I’ll have a good look at Sizwe and make a decision on his fitness on Friday.”

Barker is disapponted that his playmaker Doctor Khumalo — one of SA’s most capped players — will not make the trip. He said it is now certain that Khumalo is a non-starter. “And now the fight is on as to who will fill his place.” He said he was impressed by Clinton Larsen’s effort in shooting and crossing the ball.

SPORT BRIEFS

ERNIE READY SOUTH AFRICAN US Open champion Ernie Els will meet the winner of the first-round encounter between Jesper Panevick and Ian Woosman, as he bids for a fourth victory in the World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth on Friday. Els, the world No 3, said : “They say all good things have got to come to an end, but I’m feeling relaxed, fresh and I’m looking forward to it.”

PSL FIXTURES THIS week’s Premier Soccer League fixtures:

SATURDAY: 2.45pm, Supersport United v Hellenic (Pretoria Technikon); 3pm, Jomo Cosmos v African Wanderers (Pam Brink Stadium)

SUNDAY: 8pm, Cape Town Spurs v Sundowns (Athlone Stadium); 3pm, Bloemfontein Celtic v Wits University (Seisa Ramabodu Stadium); 3pm, Vaal Professionals v Real Rovers (Iscor Stadium); 3pm, Moroka Swallows v Qwa Qwa Stars (Orlando Stadium); 3pm, Bush Bucks v Santos (Independence Stadium).

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECOND ROUND:

SUNDAY: Oct 12: 3.30pm, Primeiro v Orlando Pirates (Angola).

WEDNESDAY, Oct 15: 8pm, Wits University v Cape Town Spurs (Milpark Stadium); 8pm, Hellenic v Moroka Swallows (Greenpoint Stadium); 8pm, Manning Rangers v Vaal Professionals (Chatsworth Stadium); 8pm, Qwa Qwa Stars v Kaizer Chiefs (Northern Free State Stadium); 8pm, Jomo Cosmos v Bush Bucks (Pam Brink Stadium).

THURSDAY: Oct 16: 8pm, Orlando Pirates v Bloemfontein Celtic (FNB Stadium); 8pm, Santos v Supersport United (Odi Stadium); 8pm, Real Rovers v African Wanderers (Pietersburg).

PERRY PEDALS SOUTH AFRICA’S James Perry finished 11th in the junior time trial at the World Road Cycling Championships in Spain on Tuesday. He finished ahead of compatriot and provincial champion Daniel Spence, who finished 48th in the 70-rider 21,6km race.

ADRI TO SYDNEY SOUTH AFRICAN 200m and 400m champion Adri de Jongh leaves for Sydney, Australia to futher her athletics career on Thursday. She however denied rumours that she is leaving because there is “bad blood” between her and coach Stephan Kotze. “There are no hard feelings, I am only grateful for what Stephan has done for me,” she said.

HURTER HURT SPRINGBOK tighthead prop Marius Hurter is likely to miss next month’s Springbok rugby tour of Europe because of a hamstring injury he suffered at Tuesday’s training session at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

TVL LEAGUE SQUAD TRANSVAAL cricket selectors have named a 12-man squad to play against Boland in the Standard Bank League at the Wanderers on Friday.

THE TEAM: Richard Snell, Sven Koening, Ken Rutherford (captain), Neil McKenzie, Derek Crookes, Dean Laing, Nic Pothas, Ross Veenstra, Stefan Jacobs, Clive Eksteen, David Terbrugge, Trevor Webster.