OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kingston | Monday 9.00am
BAFANA BAFANA completed a two-match tour of the Caribbean by drawing 1-1 with Jamaica at the Independence Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.
The 1996 African champions, who suffered a shock 2-0 loss in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, showed greater urgency and commitment in a friendly match that seldom produced top-class football.
Veteran striker Daniel Mudau put Bafana Bafana ahead after 21 minutes, with a shot through the legs of goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence on a pitch made slippery by torrential pre-match rain.
Theodore Whitmore levelled in the 37th minute with a close-range shot after a deflection off South African defender Papi Khomane was pushed into his path by Marcus Gayle.
A drab second half saw nine substitutions and few chances with the best falling to Jamaican Paul Hall, whose close-range shot was beaten away by impressive goalkeeper Brian Baloyi.
Jamaica created several scoring chances in the second half. The first came in a curling free kick from midfielder Winston Griffiths that Baloyi parried at full stretch.
Baloyi was once again the South African hero in the 75th and 88th minutes when he made superb diving saves to deny goalbound shots substitute Hall and Griffiths.
The result leaves Jamaica unbeaten at home in 39 matches since Brazilian coach Rene Simoes took charge of the Reggae Boyz five years ago while South Africa are still seeking their first win outside Africa.
South African officials took advantage of the presence of Fifa president Sepp Blatter to push their bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
“We are ready, we have the capacity and the infrastructure,” said Danny Jordaan, head of South Africa’s 2006 World Cup Committee. The championship has never been held in Africa.
Germany, England, Brazil, Nigeria and Morocco are the other countries in the race to host the 18th staging of the World Cup. Fifa is expected to name the hosts in March. — AFP