FIFA World Cup 2010
South Africa
 South AfricaSouth African Football Association (South African Football Association) Confederation: CAF Head coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira Captain: Aaron Mokoena Top scorer: Benni McCarthy FIFA ranking: 88 World Cup Appearances: 2 Team Colors: Best Results
World Cup Round 1, 1998,2002 African Nations Cup Winners, 1996 Confederations Cup 4th place 2009 |
South Africa offers its best venue as the host for the 2010 World Cup Championship, with a total of 31 guest teams. The country offers a young team for the Cup. It began as a free selection in 1991, after the apartheid regime fell, forming the Federation Soccer. Finally the people – and then the sport – were free.
On July 7, 1992, the nation was eager to show the world its full potential, facing Cameroon in a memorable game that South Africa won 1-0. Harvesting further successes, the team reaped its benefits in 1996, winning the African Nations Cup after defeating Egypt, Algeria, and, in the semifinals, Ghana. In 1998 and 2002, the team managed to qualify for the first round.
Today, South Africa celebrates not only its participation in the World Cup but also the fact of its being the first African nation to host the football world tournament.
Qualifying Stage
As the host team, South Africa was awarded qualification immediately. Despite being a young squad, the team of the Rainbow Nation has shown that it has the ability to play soccer with strength and elegance. The players will be motivated as representatives of their country, playing in front of a people of which they are a part.
Players
Bafana Bafana, as the African team is called, has not yet determined it players for the World Cup. This leaves an opportunity for key players in the African football league to join the team. However, some figures to watch out for include defenders Bongani Khumalo, Bryce Moon and Morgan Gould, while Steven Pienaar, MacBeth Sibaya and Siphiwe Tshabalala offer a creative offense. Coach Carlos Parreira, familiar with these players, with whom he has worked and developed, should be able to assemble an African team with facility.
Head Coach
Carlos Alberto Parreira, a 67-year-old of Brazil, is South Africa’s coach. Parreira has had an extensive career and boasts a number of titles. He won the World Cup in 1994 with his national team. He has also claimed one Confederations Cup, one Copa America Cup, and several titles both within Brazil and without. Now Coach Perreira, who can count on a team that is going to give everything on the pitch, is preparing for the inauguration of the international event on June 11th.