News and Notes, Plus Bafana Headbutting @ Spurs

February 3rd, 2011 | by: Matt | Comments Off

News and Notes

Some bits and bobs from the world of South African football as of late:

- The USA has cancelled a scheduled friendly with Egypt, which was to take place on the 9th, due to the widespread unrest in the country. Egypt had hoped to use this match as preparation for their qualifier against Bafana in March, it will be interesting to see what they do now that the US is out.

- That very same day, Bafana was scheduled to take on Burkina Faso…which has also been cancelled, although SAFA quickly replayed the Stallions with Kenya, who should provide a good test for Pitso Mosimane’s men, although they are not nearly as strong as Burkina. Oh well.

- Sticking to the national side, Mosimane sent out a strong message regarding some recent actions by players taken against their clubs (ahem Mphela and Modise), stating:

“We don’t condone players who don’t attend training sessions at their clubs and we don’t have room for those players in Bafana Bafana. The results are important and my head is on the block. I need these key players, but if players don’t report to training in their clubs then this is not the place at Bafana to promote players who are absconding from their clubs. We must not send out the wrong message to the players that they can abscond and still come to Bafana.”

Strong words, but I do sort of feel for Mphela in particular. I wrote earlier about how none of the major Bafana stars have moved to Europe following the World Cup. Now someone (Partizan Belgrade) makes a solid offer for Mphela….and Sundowns flat out reject it. Ugh.

- In terms of the PSL season, Pirates still top the table, with Chiefs and Sundowns hot on their heels. My hometown clubs Ajax and Santos lie in fourth and fifth, respectively, while at the other end, Mpumalanga Black Aces prop up the table on a sad, sad 8 points.

- Moving on to South Africans abroad and….Khumalo made the bench for Spurs on Wednesday!!! Great news, as this means he is surely on his way to a first appearance, and then inevitable start, as Spurs central defenders seem to have the make up of wax paper (Dawson, King, etc).

Also, hilariously or depressingly, I am not sure which, Khumalo accidentally headbutted fellow South African Steven Pienaar during training, knocking him unconscious.

“Our other South African Bongani thought Steven’s head was the ball and knocked him unconscious in training.” – Harry Redknapp.

Can’t make this stuff up folks. Pienaar is now out for two weeks, while Khumalo should probably work on his aim in advance of his debut.