SAFA boss expects no favours from Ghana

Published on: 06 August 2010

South African Football Association (Safa) CEO Leslie Sidebe has warned Bafana Bafana not expect any favours from Ghana when the two teams meet in a friendly soccer match next week.

Sedibe said that a baptism of fire awaits Carlos Alberto Parreira’s successor Pitso Mosimane after Ghana nearly became the first African team to reach the semifinals of a World Cup tournament.

“We have made it clear that we expect a full-strength side with the core of the players that performed so well at the World Cup,” said Sedibe.

“Ghana were happy with the agreement and accepted that they would be heavily fined if they did not meet the demand.”

Mosimane has already said that a number of youngsters will be considered to be able to rebuild the side for the next World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

That may mean that the heads of experienced players such as Bafana World Cup captain Aaron Mokoena, Matthew Booth, Benni McCarthy and Surprise Moriri will finally roll.

Greenhorns such as Siyanda Xulu, Siyabonga Sangweni, Thanduyise Khuboni, Daylon Claasen and Kermit Erasmus may be picked.

“The emphasis is on 2014, but I want them to gradually become part of the side and be exposed to soccer at this level,” Mosimane had said last week.

“It will be stupid to get rid of all the experienced players at once.”

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