FRIDAY 12:30PM
BAFANA Bafana skipper Lucas Radebe will captain the natiopanl soccer squad in the final of the African Cup of Nations final against Egypt in Burkina Faso on Saturday.
This will come as good news to South African supporters, as well as Radebe’s Bafana teammates and coach, as Radebe was reported not to be eligible for the final after being booked in the semifinal clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday.
The Confederation of African Football, however, said on Thursday that its records show only one yellow card against the midfielder, and that he will be allowed to play. It had been thought that Radebe was booked twice during the tournament and was therefore not eligible to play in the final.
More good news is that Andrew “Jaws of Life” Rabutla will be back in defence, and will most probably be assigned to mark the explosive Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan. Star striker Phil “Chippa” Masinga also looks set to play, after being sidelined with a hamstring problem.
The bad news is that Bafana Bafana are without the services of wing-back David Nyathi, following his booking on Wednesday, and subsequent one-match ban. Midfielders Brendan Augustine and Helman Mkhalele are also recovering from injury, and hope to be fit for the final.
SPORT BRIEFS
KEPLER GETS ANOTHER TON
VETERAN skipper Kepler Wessels claimed his fourth century of the season, to take Eastern Province to a respectable total of 275/6 on the opening day of their Supersport Series match against Free State at St George’s Park on Thursday. Wessels played fluently throughout most of his innings and at stumps was on 109 not-out.
NORTHERNS MIDDLE ORDER FAILS
NORTHERNS’ middle order failed to hold the advantage as the visitors were reduced from 198/3 to 267/6 on the first day of their Supersport Series match against Border at Buffalo Park on Wednesday.
SARFU DECIDES ON QUOTA
THE South African Rugby Football Union has made a temporary ruling which states that “a player of colour” who has played five or more senior provincial matches in 1997, or who has Springbok colours, cannot be eligible as a “quota” player. The quota is a racial one aimed at developing more black rugby players.
AFRICAN NATIONS CUP SCORERS
TOP goal-scorers in the African Cup on Nations tournament so far:
Benni McCarthy (SA), Hossam Hassan(Egypt): 7; Joel Tiehi (Ivory Coast): 4; Tondelua Mbuilua (DRC), Souleymane Oulare (Guinea), Alphonse Tchami(Cameroon): 3.