South Africa World Cup Squad Preview

Written by Tony Concannon Monday, 17 May 2010 15:38

World Cup Squad Previews

South Africa's World Cup should last all of three games, but their fans and players will enjoy the experience all the same. The fact that they are hosting the tournament is cause for celebration in itself, and local fans will be sure to enjoy the month of mouthwatering matches.
 

There is no doubt South Africa have improved as a footballing nation, see their respectable performance as host of this year's Confederations Cup, but they stand little to zero chance of progressing out of Group A. They will open the tournament to a fanfare of noise on June 11 against Mexico, and will also face Uruguay and France.  
   

Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira is back for a second spell in charge following a brief sojourn back to his home country for family reasons. Parreira has named 19 home-based players in his 30-man preliminary squad and 11 players who ply their trade overseas. Their most well-known name is probably Everton's talented midfielder Steven Pienaar. All hopes rest on the star man, although Panathinaikos man Bryce Moon could well shine.
   

The Bafana Bafana squad will be hoping their all-time top score Benni McCarthy can regain his fitness. The experienced front-man has played very little football since his move to West Ham from Blackburn in February. If McCarthy does not recover, Parreira will hope Bernard Parker, of Dutch champions FC Twente can get amongst the goals.
   

Fulham's Kagisho Dikgacoi and Portsmouth's Aaron Mokoena have been in and out of their club sides all season, and both will be hoping to get over their respective cup final disappointments in time for the opening game on June 11. One real surprise name in the squad is Surprise Moriri of Mamelodi Sundowns, and it will be no surprise if the sun has gone down on South Africa's World Cup hopes by the time they meet France in their final group game.   

South Africa squad:
   

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United), Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Moeneeb Joseph (Orlando Pirates).
   

Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Mdledle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Bryce Moon (PAOK, Greece), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel).
   

Midfielders: Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Franklin Cale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia).
   

Strikers: Benni McCarthy (West Ham United, England), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Holland)
 

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