Bafana Bafana and Jamaica dished one of the best elementary football lessons when they played to a 0-0 draw in an almost packed-to-capacity Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday night.
The international friendly turned out to be the best recipe to celebrate the country’s launch for the 2010 World Cup bid campaign.
The match, that started on a low-key note as both sides fought to settle to the playing rhythm, saw the ”Reggae Boyz” taking full control of the match proceedings as their midfield of Omar Daley, Darren Byfield and Jermaine Johnson impressed with their precision passes and precision dribbling.
The Kingston side made their first direct attempt at goals on four minutes when Daley controlled a silky pass from the midfield and rapidly unleashed a powerful shot that took a deflection off Mbulelo Mabizela.
However the immaculate Kaizer Chiefs ”sticksman”, Brian Baloyi, turned to acrobatically parry for a corner kick.
Thereafter, Bafana shifted gears, with Macbeth Sibaya, Stanton Fredericks and S’busiso Zuma tormenting their opposition.
But the first real attempt by Bafana came from defender Lucky Lekgwathi whose long-range shot went wide in the 20th minute.
Prolific strikers Lesley Manyathela and Nkosinathi Nhleko could not destroy the wall defence of the Jamaicans, who played as if their lives depended on the game.
Bafana coach Ephraim Mashaba introduced Joel Seroba for Nhleko and pushed Zuma deep in the front in search for an opener in the 65th minute.
The visitors responded by bringing on Fitzroy Simpson for Byfield in the 80th minute. It was Jamaica who almost had the last laugh when Fitzroy in his first touch rifled a shot that grazed the woodwork in the 85th minute.
Zuma, who showed some glimpses of his magic, forced a corner in the 88th minute.
But Mandla Zwane, who took the kick, failed to make it count. He swung the ball far too wide much to the disappointment of the vociferous crowd.
The two teams that drew 1-1 in Kingston in 1999 were presented with gold meals and it was also announced that each country will keep the Bid Cup for a period of six months. – Sapa