South Africa/Zimbabwe: Italy Kick Off a Tough Bafana Fortnight

20 April 2001
Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg)
By Ntuthuko Maphumulo

Johannesburg — Bafana Bafana have a hectic schedule in the coming two weeks. They play Italy on Wednesday in Perugia and four days later take on Mozambique in Maputo in a Cosafa Cup match, followed by a World Cup qualifier at FNB against Zimbabwe on May 5.

The friendly against the European powerhouse " ranked number five in the world versus South Africa's 22nd " should be a display of world-class football. Anything less will be unacceptable to either country's supporters.

Italy, beaten 2-1 in the final of Euro 2000 by France, are leading their World Cup qualifying group. The match is a preparation for Bafana Bafana for their next important games. Italy are well known for defending instead of playing all out, but recently have shown that they are prepared to fight till the end. They are expected to field some players who competed in Euro 2000 and World Cup qualifiers " the likes of Christian Vieri, Alessandro del Piero, Stefano Fiore and some under-21 players such as Gennaro Gattuso and Gianni Comandini.

The Bafana Bafana team is expected to be dominated by European-based players as coach Carlos Quieroz is there looking at them.

South African Football Association (Safa) CEO Danny Jordaan says: "To play Italy in Italy is a great test for the Bafana Bafana players."

Italy have won the World Cup three times, the most recent being in 1982.

They were defeated by Brazil in the 1990 World Cup final after star striker Roberto Baggio failed to score a penalty. This led to world governing body Fifa saying never again shall a World Cup final be determined through a penalty shoot-out.

Jordaan says the squad that will play against Italy will be rested after that match and hopes they will not take part in the Cosafa match. The team to play in Mozambique (birthplace of Bafana coach Carlos Queiroz) will consist of players who played in the recent four-nations tournament in Portugal and those who had not played in Italy.

The hectic schedule culminates in the game of all games against our northern neighbours that will determine whether Bafana Bafana can qualify for the second time for the World Cup.

Bafana team manager Zola Dunywa says: "Safa tried to have the match against Mozambique postponed, but Cosafa refused."

This will put tremendous pressure on the players to deliver.

Copyright © 2001 Mail & Guardian. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 800 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.