Thursday 30 August 2012

Gordon Igesund's Bafana: "We won't play Brazil feeling inferior"

Start of a new era: Bafana boss Gordon Igesund

Gordon Igesund has picked his first Bafana Bafana squad - to play Brazil in Sao Paolo on September 7, kick-off 8.45pm on SABC1.
No surprises among the goalkeepers with Moeneeb Josephs back ("I didn't beg him," Igesund said) and Orlando Pirates Siya Sangweni in at the back with Morgan Gould injured ("That was a big blow to us and to Kaizer Chiefs").
In midfield, Igesund had picked Kamohelo Makotjo from Feyenoord ("Playing in a good League in Holland's Ere divisie, deserves a chance") and Kgosi Ntlhe ("Playing for Peterborough in a very touch Championship, I spoke to his boss Darren Ferguson (Son of Sir Alex) and he said Kgosi is just 18 but he'll never let me down").
Up front, Dino Ndlovu is in after early goals for Maccabi Haifa in Israel (Gordon said: "Who's to say he's not our next superstar. He's getting goals, he's sharp.")
Goalkeepers
Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)
Defenders
Siyabonga Sangweni (Orlando Pirates), Bevan Fransman (SuperSport United), Bongani Khumalo (PAOK, Greece), Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Anele Ngcongca (Genk, Belgium), Punch Masenamela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabo Matlaba (Orlando Pirates), Kgosi Ntlhe (Peterborough, England)
Midfielders
Kamohelo Makotjo (Feyenoord, Holland), Steven Pienaar (captain)(Everton, England), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Kaizer Chiefs), Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland), Katlego Mashego (Free State Stars), Dean Furman (Oldham Athletic, England), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace, England)
Strikers
May Mahlangu (Malmo, Sweden), Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs), Lerato Chabangu, Siyabonga Nomvete (both Moroka Swallows), Dino Ndlovu (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Thamsanqa Gabuza (Golden Arrows)
Gordon added: "Tokelo Rantie is the only player I picked and then left out. I spoke to Malmo, where he's scored four goals already, and they said he's only 60 percent fit. Tokelo told me that when I spoke to him. I appreciate his honesty."
No sign of Benni McCarthy, but Lerato Chagangu and Siyabonga Nomvete, Gordon's former Swallows, both make it. 
Igesund added: "Look, we all know Brazil are five times champions of the world, but that doesn't mean we will go out there feeling inferior. We don't have the best preparation, but we'll turn that in to a positive.
"I don't go out playing not to lose. We will go out there playing wide men, playing to win. It's Brazil's biggest national holiday on the 7th, it won't be a friendly, they've got their best side out. But we have to be positive.
"We have to win AFCON 2013, that's the big picture. I believe this is a good side, well-balanced. It will change before AFCON, no doubt. But this is a well-balanced side. This is the start of a new era for Bafana Bafana." 

3 comments:

  1. yes Gordon yes! Great squad, Mashego over teko is puzzling though (I think they play the same position!)

    not suprised by Jali omission, truth be told, he is unfit (fat!), needs to lose weight! Manqele over gabuza, personally I rate Gabuza highly & Manqele is a bit lazy to play against a fast Brazilian team! Gabuza is a great choice to replace Rantie whom I feel should've been there fit or not!

    Ntlhe, Mokotjo, Matlaba & Furman? Awesome selection! Though I'm a Khosi fan, Matlaba is better than Gaxa! Masilela will be back though when he is fit, Punch should make way, he's not convincing for me!

    Overall, i fully support Gordon's BaChiefs BaChiefs squad!!! :)

    @Iam_Yolande (Twitter)

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  2. Hype, yes! More hype and lets pray its not for nothing. Loving the novelty Gordon, freshness, no?

    By the way, how much does Gordon earn anyways Neal?? U know mos, us fans and coaches' paycheques..we GOTTA know so that when coach starts faltering, we brandish that fat cheque in his face like a double-edged sword...

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  3. i think the squad is good but I'm about the one thami gabuza. you know Neal, Gordon appeared as this coach who will select players on merit which means current form, game time and fitness. so when there is a player that has not played since last season and he has not played a full 90 minutes since 2011 that raises eyebrows. I'm just saying that there are other players particular strikers that have been on fine form despite changing teams.

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