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2004
Mighty Amajita too hot to handle
on way to Vodacom Cosafa under 20 championship final
Johannesburg, Thursday, 2 December 2004 – The Rainbow Nation’s young football warriors, the Mighty Amajita booked their place in Saturday’s Vodacom Confederation of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) under 20 championship final, after crushing the challenge of Zimbabwe 4-1 in typically warm Pretoria conditions at the Caledonian stadium on Thursday.
CAPS UNITED ARE ZIMBABWE CHAMPIONS
Striker Leonard Tsipa scored four goals as CAPS United won their premier league title in Zimbabwe on Wednesday with a 5-1 away win over Kwekwe Cables in Mbizo.
2004 COSAFA U20 COMPETITION - LOG
YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
Cosafa’s two representatives Angola and Lesotho have been paired in the same group for January’s African Youth Championships in Benin.
YAMBA ASHA NAMED BEST PLAYER
Angolan defender Yamba Asha was named as the best player in the 2004 Cosafa Castle Cup, winning the R20 000 prize in the individual award.
MEDIA AWARD WINNERS
The winners of the 2004 Cosafa Castle Cup media awards were made in Lusaka on Saturday:
ANGOLA ARE 2004 WINNERS
Angola won a record third Cosafa Castle Cup title on Saturday, edging hosts Zambia 5-4 on penalties in the final in Lusaka after a goalless draw at the end of extra time.
 Shock rocks Basotho as Makakole dies
The President of the Lesotho Football Association and the Chairman of the Lesotho Sports Commission, Thabo Makakole was killed a few hours after he landed in the kingdom from Cairo when an oncoming minibus lost control and crashed into a Toyota condor in which Makakole was driving at Lancers Gap in Maseru on Thursday afternoon.
TRIBUTES FOR LEFA PRESIDENT THABO MAKAKOLE
The president of the Lesotho Football Association, Thabo Makakole, died tragically in a car accident in Maseru on Thursday.
BRUCE IS BACK IN BUSINESS
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, fired last month after just five matches in charge of South African side Manning Rangers, has bounced back to take over at another struggling side, Umtata Bush Bucks.
SONANGOL WIN ANGOLA CUP
Desportivo Sonangol beat Primeiro Agosto 2-0 in Luanda on Thursday to win the Angolan Cup for the second time in four years.
UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
COSAFA UNDER 20 YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP
25 NOVEMBER 2004 – 05 DECEMBER 2004
PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES...
COSAFA FINALS (1997 - 2003)
1997 Namibia 1 Zambia 1 ...
ANGOLA NAME PRELIMINARY SQUAD FOR FINAL
Angola have named just four foreign-based players in a preliminary squad for this year’s Cosafa Castle Cup final, unable to get their sizeable Portuguese-based contingent released for November 20’s final in Lusaka.
ZAMBIA TO MEET ANGOLA IN FINAL
Zambia edged through to the final of this year’s Cosafa Castle Cup with a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Zimbabwe after a goalless draw in Sunday’s semifinal in Harare.
ZAMBIA’S SEMIFINAL SQUAD
Zambia’s squad for Sunday’s semifinal against Zimbabwe in Harare
ZIMBABWE’S SEMIFINAL SQUAD
Zimbabwe on Thursday finalised their squad for Sunday’s semifinal against Zambia:
BAKILI BULLETS OUT OF CHAMPS LEAGUE
Defending champions Enyimba of Nigeria are through to the semifinals of the African Champions League after avoiding defeat against Bakili Bullets of Malawi in Blantyre on Saturday.
SWAZILAND TO GET NEW FIFA COURSE
FIFA's new Com-Unity programme is now formally underway after the conclusion of a two-day workshop for its instructors in Zurich from 7-8 October 2004.
SANCTION FOR SWAZILAND
Following the acts of violence, which led to the curtailing of the Cosafa Castle Cup quarter-final between Swaziland and Zimbabwe at the Somhlolo stadium on June 27, the following decision has been made by the organising committee of the Cosafa Castle Cup:
ANGOLA’S WORLD CUP SQUAD
Angola’s coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves has named a 23-man squad for their World Cup African zone Group Four qualifier against Zimbabwe on Sunday:
ZIMBABWE TO DECIDE ON NEW COACH
A decision on a new national coach for beleaguered Zimbabwe is expected to be made on Tuesday, the country’s football association president
BAFANA HOPE FOR SOME FORTUNE
National coach Stuart Baxter is hoping Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune will have recovered from injury in time to make his long awaited return to the South African side for next month’s World Cup qualifier against Uganda.
AFRICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPS
Nigeria began the defence of their African women’s championship with a resounding 4-0 win over Algeria in Johannesburg on Sunday.
ANGOLA INTO THE FINAL
An opportunistic goal from Petro Atletico striker Flavio settled a tough battle of attrition between Mozambique and Angola in Maputo on Sunday with the Angolans progressing to the final of the Cosafa Castle Cup.
100 UP FOR COSAFA
The Cosafa Castle Cup celebrates its 100th game on Sunday, with festivities in Maputo as Mozambique hosts Angola in the first of this year’s semifinals.
GONCALVES FUMO IN MOZAMBIQUE SQUAD
Mozambique have managed to call up one of their Portuguese based contingent and will have four players from neighbouring South Africa in their squad for Sunday’s Cosafa Castle Cup semifinal against Angola.
ANGOLA SQUAD FOR SEMIFINAL
Angola have named 21 players for their Cosafa Castle Cup semifinal against Mozambique in Maputo on Sunday.
OKOCHA PRAISE SINGER SACKED
A television soccer commentator has been fired by Zimbabwe’s state-run broadcasting corporation after being accused of bias against his country while covering a recent World Cup qualifier, press reports said.
SEMIFINAL POSTPONED
The Cosafa Castle Cup semifinal between Zimbabwe and Zambia has been postponed from October 3 to October 24, officials announced on Saturday.
ANGOLA’S WORLD CUP SQUAD
Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves named a 23-man squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier at home to Rwanda in Luanda:
MARIMO CANNOT TAKE UP SA JOB
Former Zimbabwe coach Sunday Marimo has lost a coaching job in neighbouring South Africa because he allegedly misplaced his passport and is unable to travel, officials said.
BARTLETT OUT OF WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
South Africa have been forced to leave Charlton Athletic striker Shaun Bartlett out of their squad for next weekend’s World Cup qualifier because of an ankle in jury.
ZIMBABWE’S 26 FOR NIGERIA TIE
Zimbabwe’s coach Rahman Gumbo on Friday named a 26-man squad for his country’s World Cup African zone group four qualifier against Nigeria in Harare on September 5:
BARTLETT OUT OF WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
South Africa have been forced to leave Charlton Athletic striker Shaun Bartlett out of their squad for next weekend’s World Cup qualifier because of an ankle in jury.
SOUTH AFRICA WARNED BY FIFA
South Africa are to be warned by FIFA after breaking new rules by using more than six substitutes in a friendly match on Wednesday.
SOUTH AFRICA BEAT AFRICAN CHAMPIONS
An early long range shot from Benni McCarthy set South Africa on their way to a surprise 2-0 win away over African champions Tunisia on Wednesday.
OFFICIALS FOR COSAFA CASTLE CUP SEMIFINAL
SOUTH AFRICA BEAT AFRICAN CHAMPIONS
An early long range shot from Benni McCarthy set South Africa on their way to a surprise 2-0 win away over African champions Tunisia on Wednesday.
MARIMO TO COACH IN SA
Sunday Marimo, who took Zimbabwe to the African Nations Cup finals earlier this year, has been appointed as the coach of newly-promoted South African premier league side Umtata Bush Bucks.
PIRATES KICKED OUT OF CUP
South African club Orlando Pirates have been kicked out of the African Confederation Cup after failing to travel to Cameroon for a postponed fourth round tie this weekend.
ZAMBIA’S WORLD CUP SQUAD
Zambia’s squad for their World Cup African zone group one qualifier against Liberia in Lusaka on September 4:
SEMIFINAL DRAW
Draw for the semifinal of the 2004 Cosafa Castle Cup conducted in Lusaka on Saturday:
BWALYA'S FAREWELL FAIRYTALE
Zambian coach Kalusha Bwalya made a fairytale farewell appearance for his country at the age of 41, appearing as a second-half substitute and then scoring in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Mauritius in the quarter-final of the Cosafa Castle Cup in Lusaka.
ZAMBIA’S QUARTER-FINAL SQUAD
Zambian exports Zacharia Simukonda and Ian Bakala arrived home on Wednesday for their country’s Cosafa Castle Cup quarter-final against Mauritius but there is doubt over the availability of imposing defender Elijah Tana.
BAFANA SEEK FORTUNE BACK
South African coach Stuart Baxter has met with Manchester United’s Quinton Fortune in an effort to persuade the midfielder to return to international action with his country.
BAFANA BAFANA TO TUNISIA AGAIN
African champions Tunisia are to host South Africa in a friendly international in Tunis on August 18, federation officials announced on Monday. ...
ZIMBABWE WIN ADDED REWARD
Zimbabwe‚s five-goal haul against Swaziland in their Cosafa Castle Cup quarter-final on June 27 has earned them an extra R10 000 (about US$1,700) in prize money. ...
BAFANA’S HOPES BACK ON TRACK
South Africa’s put their World Cup hopes back on track with a easy 2-0 win over Burkina Faso in Johannesburg on Saturday but still came in for some criticism from coach Stuart Baxter. ...
BAFANA TRIM THEIR SQUAD
South Africa have trimmed their squad for this Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso to 21 players after several days of training, coach Stuart Baxter announced. ...
ANGOLA’S WORLD CUP SQUAD
Angola’s squad for the World Cup African zone group four qualifier against Gabon in Libreville on Saturday: ...
MABIZELA STRIPPED OF BAFANA CAPTAINCY
South African defender Mbulelo Mabizela was stripped of his captaincy of the country’s national team after reporting late for training on Monday, coach Stuart Baxter said on Wednesday. ...
NDLOVU APPROACHED BY SA CLUB
National captain Peter Ndlovu is considering an offer from South African club Mamelodi Sundowns for the new season after more than a decade of playing in England. ...
LPS WIN CUP
By Thabang Matjama
The star-studded Lesotho Prisons Services were on rampage when they clobbered all their opponents in the round-robin Lesotho Buddie Top Four tournament last weekend. ...
FISH WALKS OUT ON SA SQUAD
Charlton Athletic defender Mark Fish withdrew from South Africa’s World Cup squad on Monday after stinging criticism of his recent performances in the local media and said he had no plans to continue with his international career, officials said on Monday. ...
FISH WALKS OUT ON SA SQUAD
Charlton Athletic defender Mark Fish withdrew from South Africa’s World Cup squad on Monday after stinging criticism of his recent performances in the local media and said he had no plans to continue with his international career, officials said on Monday. ...
ZIMBABWE THRASH SWAZILAND
Peter Ndlovu scored a hat trick for Zimbabwe as they thrashed Swaziland 5-0 away in the Cosafa Castle Cup quarter-final on Sunday but angry home fans brought a premature end to proceedings. ...
BAFANA SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP GAME
South Africa will be back to near full strength for their World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso next weekend after coach Stuart Baxter named a 28-man squad on Thursday that included all the country’s leading players except injured Sibusiso Zuma. ...
SA POLICE PROMISE MORE ARRESTS
South African police promised more arrests on Thursday in the country’s on-going soccer match-fixing scandal after the detention of 10 referees over the last week. ...
GROBBELAAR COULD RETURN FOR ZIMBABWE
Bruce Grobbelaar is set to return as coach of Zimbabwe after talks with officials at the weekend, newspapers said on Tuesday. ...
SWAZILAND ON STRIKE
The national soccer team went on strike on Monday refusing to train until they had been paid outstanding allowances, local newspapers reported on Tuesday. ...
SIHLANGU SQUAD FOR SUNDAY
Swaziland have named an 18-man squad for their Cosafa Castle Cup quarter-final match against Zimbabwe at the Somhlolo stadium on Sunday ...
GROBBELAAR COULD RETURN FOR ZIMBABWE
Bruce Grobbelaar is set to return as coach of Zimbabwe after talks with officials at the weekend, newspapers said on Tuesday. ...
SAVANNE WIN MAURITIUS FA CUP
Stevenson Hollingsworth scored a match winner early in the second half to steer Savanne SC to victory in the FA Cup in Mauritius with a 3-2 win over Faucon Flacq on Saturday. The victory came after Savanne were twice behind in the first half against the team led by Elvis Antoine, who is now also co-coach of the Mauritius national team. The winning team’s other two goals came from Kurt Desalles. Savanne now qualify to play in continental club competition in next year’s African Confederation Cup.
ZAMBIA DRAW IN WORLD CUP
Tottenham Hotspur striker Frederic Kanoute rescued a point for Mali with a late goal on Saturday as his country were held to a 1-1 draw by Zambia in their World Cup qualifier in Bamako.
Kanoute’s 80th minute goal gave Mali their first point of their African zone group one campaign but the draw is a setback for the African Nations Cup semifinalists, who lost their first group match at Liberia two weeks ago.
Saturday’s World Cup qualifiers in Africa were dominated by some of the country’s lightweights who also marked their transition into competitive sides with rare wins in the qualifiers.
Botswana, the Cape Verde Islands and Rwanda won only their second-ever World Cup games on Saturday to register their first points of the campaign for a place in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
Mali fell behind to a 16th minute goal from Zambia’s burly striker Harry Milanzi before Kanoute rescued the point.
Zambia also played the last five minute with 10 men after the dismissal of striker Dadley Fichite.
Botswana’s American-based striker Dipsy Selolwane scored early to give his country the lead against Malawi and a goal from Nelson Gabolwelwe midway through the first-half made sure of the home win in Gaborone in the group five game.
It was Selolwane’s fourth goal of the qualifying campaign, making him the joint top goal scorer in the African preliminaries.
A further nine qualifying matches in the African zone are to be played around the continent on Sunday.
TWO MORE BAFANA PLAYERS OUT
Striker Shaun Bartlett and midfielder Sibusiso Zuma have both withdrawn from South Africa’s squad on their eve of their departure for a World Cup qualifier in Ghana this weekend.
VONK WITHDRAWS FROM SA SIDE
Goalkeeper Hans Vonk has withdrawn from South Africa’s squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Ghana citing an Achilles tendon injury, the South African Football Association said on Monday.
Mozambique win through to quarter-finals
Mozambique won through to the quarter-finals of the Cosafa Castle Cup for the first time
MAMBAS INTO LAST FOUR
Mozambique will acknowledge that victory was helped by the dismissal of Malawian defender Maupo Msowoya after just 20 minutes of the match at the Machava stadium.
ARBER NAMED IN SA SQUAD
South Africa have named uncapped Peterborough United defender Marc Arber in their squad for the key World Cup qualifier against Ghana next weekend.
ZAMBIA’S SQUAD FOR BAMAKO
Zambia’s squad for their World Cup African zone group one qualifier against Mali in Bamako on June 19:
Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mweene (Kitwe United)
Defenders: Lloyd Mumba (Manning Rangers, South Africa), Kunda Mushota (Green Buffaloes), Joseph Musonda (Zesco), Billy Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Edwin Phiri (Ogryte, Sweden), Elijah Tana (Petro Atletico, Angola).
Midfielders: Ian Bakala (CAPS United, Zimbabwe), Isaac Chansa (Power Dynamos), Dudley Fichite (Green Buffaloes), Gift Kampamba (FC Rostov, Russia), Christopher Katongo, Misheck Lungu (both Green Buffaloes), Numba Mumamba (Zanaco), Justine Mwilima (Zesco), Andrew Sinkala (FC Cologne, Germany)
Strikers: Songwe Chalwe (Red Arrows), Collins Mbesuma (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Jacob Mulenga (Afrisport), Harry Milanzi (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Boyd Mwila (Orgryte, Sweden).
MABIZELA’S GOALS GIVES BAFANA VICTORY
South African captain Mbulelo Mabziela scored two goals to hand his country an unconvincing 2-1 win over the Cape Verde Islands at the start of their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
PAITO, FUMO BACK FOR MAMBAS
Mozambique have recalled Sporting Lisbon defender Paito and striker Goncalves Fumo to their squad for the Cosafa Castle Cup match against Malawi on June 13.
Coach Ayman El Yamany has to do without Armando Sa of Benfica, however for the game in Maputo which is the first of this year’s quarter-final ties.
Mozambique beat Madagascar 2-0 in the first round in April to book a meeting with Malawi, who were runners-up in last year’s southern African championships.
Veteran striker Tico-Tico will again leads the Mambas, who have Goncalves Fumo back for the first time since last year. Fumo was formerly on the books of Sporting but now plays for Naval in the second division.
Mozambique, who are not participating in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers after being eliminated by Guinea in the preliminary round last November, are seeking to reach the semifinals of the knockout competition for the first time.
Their squad for the match at the Estadio Machava is:
Goalkeepers: Kapango (Ferroviario Maputo), Leonel (Costa do Sol)
Defenders: Dario Khan (Al Hilal, Sudan), Jotamo (Costa do Sol), Mano (Desportivo Maputo), Miro (Maxaquene), Nando (Black Leopards, South Africa), Paito (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal), Quito (Ferroviario Maputo), Tomas (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
Midfielders: Abilio (Ferroviario Beira), Fala-Fala (Desportivo Maputo), Gabito(Al Hilal, Sudan), Genito (Maxaquene), Nelinho (Ferroviario Maputo)
Strikers: Goncalves Fumo (Naval, Portugal), Tico-Tico, To (both Jomo Cosmos, South Africa)
DEFENCE FORCE ARE BASOTHO CHAMPS
Champions Lesotho Defence Force retained their title at the weekend when they hammered their closest challengers Lesotho Prisons Services in the final match of the season. The army side won 5-0 against the prison warders to qualify to again play in the African Champions League next year. The two sides had been level on points before Sunday’s match but the emphatic nature of LDF’s win confirmed their pre-season status as favourites to take the league in the mountain kingdom.
VETERAN MTAWALI IN MALAWI SQUAD
Malawi have recalled the 38-year-old midfielder Ernest Mtawali to their squad for the World Cup qualifier against Morocco in Blantyre on Saturday, the Football Association of Malawi said on Monday.
Mtawali, who plays at Ajax Cape Town in South Africa, made his debut for Malawi almost 21 years ago at the age of 17 in a Nations Cup qualifier against Madagascar in August, 1983.
Officials said the midfielder had been called up after public demand for his inclusion. He will be one six foreign-based players in the 20-man squad for the group five match.
Malawi will be unusually coach by a trio of officials – John Kaputa, Kinnah Phiri and Dave Mpesi – for the game.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Philip Nyasulu (Wanderers), Swadick Sanudi (Bakili Bullets)
Defenders: Allan Kamanga (Wanderers), Patrick Mabedi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Peter Mponda, Maupo Msowoya (both Bakili Bullets), Lackson Mtambo (Red Lions), Itay Nundwe (Silver Strikers)
Midfielders: James Chilapondwa, Emmanuel Chipatala (both Bakili Bullets), Dan Chitsulo (FC Cologne, Germany), Joseph Kamwendo (Wanderers), Fisher Kondowe (Bakili Bullets), John Maduka (Zulu Royals, South Africa), Ernest Mtawali (Ajax Cape Town, South Africa), Hellings Mwakasungula (Silver Stars)
Strikers: Essau Kanyenda (FC Rostov, Russia), Heston Munthali (MDC United), Russell Mwafulirwa (Jomo Cosmos, South Africa), Jimmy Zakazaka (Bakili Bullets).
OFFICIALS FOR COSAFA CASTLE CUP MATCHES
Mozambique v Malawi – Sunday 13 June
Match Com: Thabo Makakole (Lesotho)
Refs Inspec: Frank Valdemarca (Zimbabwe)
Referees: W Kaoma/K Chichenga/E Kalaba (Zambia)
4th: H Langa (Mozambique)
Swazi v Zim – Sunday 27 June
Match Com: tbc
Refs Inspec: Chileshe Mukuka (Zambia)
Referees: M Infanta/D Piquenino/F Machel (Moz)
4th: Sabelo Kunene (Swaziland)
Ang v Bots – Sunday 18 July
Match Com: Kabalamula Chayu (Zambia)
Refs Inspec: Frank Valdemarca (Zimbabwe)
Referees: Paul Phomane/Sekhonyana Seeiso/Paul Khiba (Lesotho)
4th: Inacio Antonio (Angola)
Zam v Mru – Sat 31 July
Match Com: Henry Moyo (Malawi)
Refs Inspec: Chileshe Mukuka (Zambia)
Referees: C Manuel/G Muzambi/C Nyoni (Zimbabwe)
4th: L Jere (Zambia)
ANGOLA SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP
Angola’s squad for their World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Annaba on Sunday:
Goalkeepers: Joao Pereira (Moreirense, Portugal), Lama (Petro Atletico), Nuno (AS Aviacao)
Defenders: Elisio (Primeiro Agosto), Jacinto, Jamba (both AS Aviacao), Joel (InterClube), Kali (Santa Clara, Portugal), Loco, Miro (both Petro Atletico), Yamba Asha (AS Aviacao)
Midfielders: Andre (Boavista, Portugal), Figueiredo (Santa Clara, Portugal), Gilberto (Al Ahli, Egypt), Rats (AS Aviacao), Ze Calanga (Petro Atletico)
Forwards: Akwa (Qatar SC, Qatar), Bruno Mauro (Belenenses, Portugal), Chinho (Sagrada Esperanca), Freddy (Uniao Leiria, Portugal), Love (AS Aviacao), Marco Paulo (Estoril, Portugal), Maurito (Uniao Leiria, Portugal).
SA WITHDRAW FROM 2008 BID
South Africa have withdrawn their bid to host the 2008 African Nations Cup finals leaving Ghana and Libya in the race to organise the bi-annual tournament.
South African Football association president Molefi Oliphant said on Monday his country were pulling out after winning the right to host the 2010 World Cup.
He said the association had decided to concentrate all its efforts on the 2010 event.
The Confederation of African Football are scheduled to decide on the 2008 host nation when they meet in Cairo in July. There are plans to send an inspection team to both countries before the vote of the CAF executive committee but no details have yet to released of the planned visits.
Ghana have previously hosted the Nations Cup finals in 1963, 1978 and as co-hosts with Nigeria in 2000. Libya were hosts in 1982, when Ghana ironically last won the event.
The next Nations Cup finals are to be hosted in Egypt in 2006.
Algeria and Morocco have already stated their interest in hosting the 2010 Nations Cup tournament.
Morocco were beaten by South Africa in the vote earlier in May to decide the host of the 2010 World Cup finals, to be held in Africa for the first time.
ZAMBIA SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP MATCH
Zambia’s squad for their World Cup group one qualifier at home to Togo in Lusaka on June 5:
Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mweene (Kitwe United)
Defenders: Sashi Chalwe (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Stephen Kunda (Power Dynamos), Misheck Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Lloyd Mumba (Manning Rangers, South Africa), Joseph Musonda (ZESCO United), Billy Mwanza (both Power Dynamos), Edwin Phiri (Orgryte, Sweden)
Midfielders: Ian Bakala (CAPS United, Zimbabwe), Isaac Chansa (Power Dynamos), Dudley Fichite (Green Buffaloes), Gift Kampamba (FC Rostov, Russia), Christopher Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Numba Mumamba (Zanaco), Noel Mwandila (Green Buffaloes), Justin Mwilima (ZESCO United), Andrew Sinkala (FC Cologne, Germany)
Forwards: Songwe Chalwe (Red Arrows), Collins Mbesuma (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Harry Milanzi (Lamontville Golden Arrows, South Africa), Jacob Mulenga (Afrisports), Boyd Mwila (Orgryte, Sweden), Zachariah Simukonda (Al Merreikh, Sudan).
FISH NAMED IN SA SQUAD
Charlton Athletic defender Mark Fish to set to make his first appearance for South Africa in almost four years after being named in an 18-man squad for next month’s World Cup qualifier against the Cape Verde Islands.
Fish, who won the last of his 60 caps in October 2000, returns for the match in Bloemfontein on June 5 at the start of South Africa’s 2006 World Cup campaign.
Fish had previously asked not to be selected for the team to concentrate on his club career in England.
The squad contains juts three players from South African-based clubs and one new call-up, midfielder Elrio van Heerden from FC Copenhagen in Denmark.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Emile Baron (Lillestrom, Norway), Hans Vonk (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands)
Defenders: Bradley Carnell (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Mark Fish (Charlton Athletic, England), Aaron Mokoena (Racing Genk, Belgium), Thabang Molefe (Le Mans, France), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece)
Midfielders: Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Lance Davids (1860 Munich, Germany), Stanton Fredericks (Kaizer Chiefs), Mbulelo Mabizela (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Benson Mhlongo (Wits University), Elrio van Heerden (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates), Japhet Zwane (FC Rostov, Russia)
Strikers: Shaun Bartlett (Charlton Athletic, England), George Koumantarakis (Preston North End, England), Siyabonga Nomvete (Salernitana, Italy).
BENNI MISSES WEDDING DAY MATCH
FC Porto striker Benni McCarthy is to miss South Africa’s opening World Cup qualifier next weekend because he is getting married but will be available for the key tie against Ghana later next month, officials said on Thursday.
McCarthy, 26, marries his Spanish girlfriend in Vigo on June 5, the same day that South Africa play their opening group two qualifier against the Cape Verde Islands in Bloemfontein.
But officials said the striker would be available for the potentially critical group match against Ghana in Kumasi on June 20.
McCarthy, who featured for his club as a late substitute in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League final victory over Monaco, refused to play for South Africa at the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia earlier this year after a row over the length of his time away from his Portuguese club.
The forward, who finished as the top goal scorer in Portugal this season, announced his ‘retirement’ from international soccer after the dispute.
But new South Africa coach Stuart Baxter has met with McCarthy and persuaded him to make a return to the side as South Africa start their bid to qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
McCarthy has scored 22 goals in 51 appearances for his country
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MAMBAS CALL UP PORTUGAL TRIO
Benfica defender Armando Sa plus two other key players from Portugal are to play for Mozambique in next month’s Cosafa Castle Cup match against Malawi, coach Ayman Elyamany said on Tuesday. The others are Sporting Lisbon fullback Paito and the veteran defender Jojo, who competes for Sporting Espinho in the Portuguese second division. The match against Malawi will be played in Maputo on June 13 and is the first of the quarter-finals matches in this year’s southern African championship. Armando last played for Mozambique when they lost to Guinea in the preliminary round of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers last November.
ANGOLA SQUAD FOR CONGO FRIENDLY
Angola’s squad for their friendly match against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa on Sunday, May 23:
Goalkeeper: Joao Ricardo (Moreirense, Portugal), Nuno (AS Aviacao)
Defenders: Elisio (Primeiro Agosto), Jamba (AS Aviacao), Joel (InterClube), Kali (Santa Clara, Portugal), Mambaia (Progresso Sambizanga), Yamba Asha (AS Aviacao)
Midfielders: Andre (Boavista, Portugal), Figueiredo (Santa Clara, Portugal), Gilberto (Al Ahli, Egypt), Mendonca (Varzim, Portugal), Rats (Felgueiras, Portugal), Stopirra (Primeiro Agosto)
Strikers: Bruno Mauro (Varzim, Portugal), Chinho (Sagrada Esperanca), Freddy (Uniao Leiria, Portugal), Love (AS Aviacao), Marco Paulo (Estoril, Portugal), Maurito (Uniao Leiria, Portugal).
JELUSIC TO GET NEW CONTRACT
Botswana are to move quickly to offer their youthful Serbian coach Vesselin Jelusic an extended contract after hints he might be moving south of the border to one of the South African premier league clubs.
Jelusic has made a quick reputation for himself since taking over as coach of the Zebras last year, guiding the under achieving side into the quarter-final of the Cosafa Castle Cup for a second successive year plus qualifying the team for the group phase of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, which start next month.
Botswana Football Association president David Fani has told local radio a new deal is to be offered to Jelusic, a former national coach in Angola and who also previously worked at AS Aviacao and InterClube in Luanda.
His contract expires in September, just after Botswana have got their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign underway. They start with a tough away game at African champions Tunisia next month.
Fani told listeners Jelusic was already in talks over his new package. He also slammed local newspapers claiming they were writing fiction rather than fact around the coach’s future.
Jelusic was linked by several reports with the South African club Jomo Cosmos, although this has since been denied by Cosmos owner Jomo Sono. “It is simply not true that Jelusic is leaving and the story has hurt him,” Fani said.
ZAMBIA SQUAD FOR FRIENDLY
Zambia’s squad for their friendly international against Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday:
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mweene (Kitwe United)
Defenders: Evans Chisulo (Zanaco), Chalwe Kabamba (ZESCO), Stephen Kunda (Power Dynamos), Pephias Malekano (Lusaka Celtic), Joseph Musonda (ZESCO), Billy Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Derrick Shapande (Young Arrows), Felix Simukonda (Kabwe Warriors)
Midfielders: Ian Bakala (CAPS United, Zimbabwe), Isaac Chansa (Power Dynamos), Felix Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Numba Mumamba (Zanaco), Justin Mwilima (ZESCO United)
Forwards: Bruce Banda (ZESCO United), Songwe Chalwe (Red Arrows), Owen Mwendabai (Kabwe Warriors).
QUARTER FINAL DRAW
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Cosafa Castle Cup, conducted in Luanda on Sunday:
On 13 June:
In Maputo: Mozambique v Malawi
On 27 June:
In Somhlolo: Swaziland v Zimbabwe
On 18 July:
In Luanda: Angola v Botswana
On 31 July:
In Lusaka: Zambia v Mauritius
Winners go through to the semifinals in September and October.
ANGOLA GET LOTSA LOVE
Two similar goals from burly striker Love ensured Angola's progress into the quarter-finals of the Cosafa Castle Cup on Sunday at the expenses of Namibia, beaten 2-1
at the Estadio Cidadela.
Angola book themselves a home match in the last eight against Botswana in Gaborone as they stretched their unbeaten run against Namibia to 10 matches.
Love scored with a close-in header from Yamba Asha's cross in the 26th minute for the first goal which Namibia's goalkeeper Arnold Subeb managed to block but then allowed to slip over the line.
Love, from champion club AS Aviacao, scored his second in the 67th minute, again at the end of a cross from Yamba Asha. This time his header came from further out, was powered into the ground and again Subeb managed to get a hand onto it before allowing it slip into the net.
Angola, who only had two of their foreign-based players in the side totally dominated the match against an equally-makeshift Namibian side.
A stunning free kick from defender Jesunh Petrus gave Namibia a glimmer of hope in the 70th minute. Petrus curled a stunner past Lama in the Angolan goal in the only shot that
Namibia managed to get on target throughout the game.
It injected some life into their young and inexperienced side but Namibia kept losing possession by hanging onto the ball too long or hitting stray passes.
Angola's reward is a meeting with Botswana at home on July 18 in the draw for the last eight, conducted directly after Sunday's match in Luanda.
The draw:
13 June (Maputo): Mozambique v Malawi
27 June (Somhlolo): Swaziland v Zimbabwe
18 July (Luanda): Angola v Botswana
31 July (Lusaka): Zambia v Mauritius
COSAFA CASTLE CUP INCENTIVES
The Cosafa Castle Cup has added some new incentives this year to boost attacking play in the competition. There is a R25 000 prize on offer for any player who scores more than five goals in a single year, something that has never been achieved before. A bonus of R10 000 is also on offer to any scoring more than three goals in a match, which has been achieved before.
The man of the match awards in the annual southern African championship have also gone been double to R2000 per game. The full list of incentives this year are:
Prize money
Winners - R550 000
Runners-up - R280 000
Semifinalists - R145 000
Quarter-finalists - R95 000
First round - R80 000
Player of the Series - R20000
Man of the match - R2000 (per match)
Player who scored five or more goals per season - R25 000
Team scoring more than three goals in a match - R10 000
Media awards
Best print journalist - R12 000
Best radio journalist - R12 000
Best photographer - R12 000
NAMIBIA NAME SQUAD FOR ANGOLA
Oliver Risser, the 23-year-old reserve team player from German club Borussia Dortmund, is the only foreign-based player named in Namibia’s squad for Sunday’s Cosafa Castle Cup first round tie in Angola.
Risser was named in an 18-man squad for the match in Luanda where Namibia will attempt to turn around four years of failure in the regional tournament.
Namibia, runners-up to Angola in the 1999 final of the southern African championship, have not won a Cosafa Castle Cup match since and have another tough assignment ahead of them at the weekend.
The match is the second in charge for new part-time coach Max Johnson, a headmaster from Tsumeb in the north of the country.
Johnson has also included three players fro his own club Chief Santos and called-up Mohamed Ouseb to act as player-coach.
Ouseb recently returned home after the expiry of his contract with Lyn Oslo in Norway. He is a former Footballer of the Year in South Africa where he was a star at Kaizer Chiefs.
Another ex Brave Warriors captain, Sandro de Gouveia, is the new team manager.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Nelson Geingob (Chief Santos), Arnold Subeb (Black Africa), Esau Tjiuoro (Ramblers)
Defenders: Richard Gariseb (Orlando Pirates Windhoek), Brian Gurirab (Chief Santos), Victor Helu (Ramblers), Moses Katjiteo (Black Africa), Jesunh Petrus (Blue Waters), Amos Shiyuka (Civics), Steven Tjeenao (Chief Santos)
Midfielders: Eric Aoseb (Black Africa), Rudolph Bester (Eleven Arrows), Johannes Hawala (Blue Waters), Stanley Isaacs (Civics), Mohamed Ouseb (unattached), Oliver Risser (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
Strikers: Floris Diergaardt (Civics), Joao Paulo dos Santos (United Stars), Dokkies Schmidt (Tigers)
BODUNHA OUT OF SQUAD
Angolan coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves has dropped veteran defender Bodunha from his squad for this weekend’s Cosafa Castle Cup match against Namibia because of alleged indiscipline, the Angolan Football Federation said.
Bodunha, who plays for Portuguese second division club FC Maia, missed a flight to Ghana last week for a friendly international in Accra. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Goncalves named just three foreign-based players for Sunday’s first round match in the annual southern African championship. They are Kali of Santa Clara, Rats from Felgueiras in Portugal and Gilberto from Egyptian club Al Ahli.
Angola had hoped to call up any more but club commitments have ruled out the likes of captain Akwa and the country’s new star forward Marco Paulo from Portuguese club Estoril.
Sunday’s game is the last in the first round of this year’s southern African championship. The winner joins Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe (holders) in the quarterfinal, to be conducted in Luanda at the end of Sunday’s game.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lama (Petro Atletico), Nuno (AS Aviacao)
Defenders: Dias Caires (Petro Atletico), Elisio (Primeiro Agosto), Jamba (AS Aviacao), Kali (Santa Clara, Portugal), Mambaia (Progresso Sambizanga), Manuel, Miro (both Petro Atletico), Yamba Asha (AS Aviacao)
Midfielders: Fofana (AS Aviacao), Gilberto (Al Ahli, Egypt), Milex (AS Aviacao), Rats (Felgueiras, Portugal), Simao (AS Aviacao), Stopirra (Primeiro Agosto)
Strikers: Chinho (Sagrada Esperanca), Flavio (Petro Atletico), Jaburu (Petro Huambo), Kadima, Love, Malamba (AS Aviacao)
BAMFUCHILE BACK IN CHARGE
Ben Bamfuchile has returned to the helm of Zambia’s national team and will take charge of their upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign, which gets underway next month. Bamfuchile, who is also coach of the Copperbelt-based club Power Dynamos, previously had a spell in charge of Zambia’s side in 1999 and at the 2000 African Nations Cup finals in Nigeria, after which he was fired. Bamfuchile, who was in charge for 17 matches, then sued the Football Association of Zambia for unpaid wages. Bamfuchile’s new task is to secure qualification for Zambia for the 2006 World Cup finals. They play in group one of the African qualifiers against Congo, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Togo. Zambia are also in the quarter-finals of this year’s Cosafa Castle Cup.
BENNI’S BAFANA RETURN DELAYED
South Africa appear to have jumped the gun on the return to the national team of FC Porto striker Benni McCarthy, whose much-anticipated recall has been delayed, the South African Football Association (SAFA) said on Saturday.
McCarthy, 26, announced his retirement from international football after a row last year and missed the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.
But he was named last week by new coach Stuart Baxter in a 22-man squad to assemble in England next week for a three day training camp in Surrey.
But SAFA admitted on Saturday they had yet to conclude negotiations with McCarthy to get him back into the side and, as a result, he would not be joining up with the training squad.
Baxter has met with McCarthy and FC Porto coach Jose Mourinho but the striker has yet to agree to end his self-imposed exile.
McCarthy is understood to be seeking an assurance that he will not be banned from playing for his club if he missed future internationals.
Under FIFA regulations, players who make themselves unavailable for international matches on officially designated dates can be stopped from playing in their next club match.
McCarthy, who has scored 22 goals in 51 international appearances, has had several previous disputes with the South African association in club versus country rows and also missed the 2000 African Nations Cup finals in Ghana and Nigeria.
Striker Siyabonga Nomvete has pulled out of the squad as has Russian-based left wing Dillon Sheppard.
They have been replaced by Danish-based winger Josta Dladla and the uncapped pair of Asanda Shishuba from Antwerp in Belgium and FC Copenhagen junior Elrio van Heerden.
ZAMBIA NAME WARM-UP SQUAD
Zambia’s squad for their friendly match against Zimbabwe in Lusaka on May 1:
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kalililo Kakonje (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mweene (Kitwe United)
Defenders: Laughter Chilembi (CAPS United), Stephen Kunda (Power Dynamos), Kunda Mushota (Green Buffaloes), Joseph Musonda (ZESCO United), Billy Mwanza (Power Dynamos), Clive Sichondwe (Green Buffaloes), Felix Simukonda (Kabwe Warriors),
Midfielders: Ian Bakala (CAPS United, Zimbabwe), Isaac Chansa (Power Dynamos), Christopher Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Mischeck Lungu (Green Buffaloes), Numba Mumamba (Zanaco), Noel Mwandila (Green Buffaloes), Justin Mwilima (ZESCO United)
Forwards: Songwe Chalwe (Red Arrows), Dudley Fichite (Green Buffaloes), Jacob Mulenga (Afrisports), Zechariah Simukonda (Al Merriekh, Sudan)
NAMIBIA TO PLAY BOTSWANA
Namibia will play their first match of the year next Wednesday when they host neighbours Botswana in Windhoek in preparation for next month’s Cosafa Castle Cup clash against Angola.
The hastily-arranged fixture will be a debut for new coach Max Johnson, who will have only locally-based players for next week’s match but a stronger contingent for trip to Luanda on May 9.
Namibia have already named an expanded squad for the trip to Angola for the last of the first round matches in the annual southern African championship.
This will be trimmed to 18 after Wednesday’s match.
Namibia have been hit by the withdrawal of Hamburg SV strike Collin Benjamin, who is due to have an operation of his ankle in Switzerland on May 4, and George Hummel, the defender who has just moved to a club in Vladivostok, Russia.
But they will expect to have the use of Razindura Tjikuzu of Bundesliga club Hansa Rostock and Johannes Jantze who plays in the second division in Germany with MSV Duisburg.
Also called up for the trip to Luanda is Oliver Risser, a utility player who is in the reserve team at former European champions Borussia Dortmund.
Coach Johnson has also included South African-based midfielder Ricardo Mannetti, from Cape Town club Santos, and Mohamed Ouseb, recently released from his contract with Lyn Oslo in Norway.
Namibia will be seeking to beat Angola for the first time. Last year they lost 2-0 in Luanda and 1-3 in Windhoek to ‘Palancas Negras’ in two friendly internationals.
ZIMBABWE NAME SQUAD FOR FRIENDLY
Zimbabwe’s squad for their friendly match against Zambia in Lusaka on May 1:
Goalkeepers: Tapuwa Kapini (Highlanders), Ephraim Mazarura (Black Rhinos)
Defenders: Cephas Chimedza (Dynamos), Herbert Dick (AmaZulu), Allan Johnson (Motor Action), Dazzy Kapenya (Sporting Lions), Zvenyika Makonese (Shabanie Mine), James Matola (Dynamos), Asani Matora (CAPS United), Bhekithemba Ndlovu (Highlanders), David Sengu (CAPS United)
Midfielders: Francis Chandida (Dynamos), Honour Gombami (Highlanders), Leo Kurauzvione (Dynamos), Clement Matawu (Motor Action), Lazarus Muhoni (Black Rhinos), Rowan Nenzou (Shabanie Mine), Esrom Nyandoro, Ronald Sibanda (both AmaZulu)
Strikers: Brian Badza (CAPS United), Lloyd Hlahla (Masvingo United), Ralph Matema (Kambuzuma United), Albert Mbano (Shabanie Mine), Malvern Nyakabangwe (Lancashire Steel), Sageby Sandaka (AmaZulu).
2004 PRIZE MONEY
The prize money for the 2004 Cosafa Castle Cup is as follows:
Winners – R550 000
Runners-up – R280 000
Semifinalists – R145 000
Quarterfinalists – R95 000
First round losers – R80 000
The incentive awards as as follows:
Player of the series – R20 000
Man of match – R2000 per match
Player who scores more than five goals in a year - R25000
Team scoring more than three goals in a match – R10 000
The media awards will be as follows:
Journalist of the year R12 000
Radio journalist of the year R12 000
Photographer of the year R12 000
LESOTHO, MAURITIUS SEEK NEW COACHES
Both Lesotho and Mauritius, two countries who condemned to the wilderness of international competition for the next two years, have both announced they are seeking to hire a foreign coach.
Lesotho, surprisingly beaten 4-1 on aggregate by Botswana in the preliminary rounds of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers last November, have been talking to Kim Splidsboel.
The Danish coach formerly worked in Malawi and took the Flames to the final of the 2002 Cosafa Castle Cup where they lost to South Africa.
Mauritius have also announced their intention to find a foreign technician, according to the country’s football association president Vinod Persunnoo.
Mauritius lost in extra time to Uganda in the 2006 World Cup preliminary round qualifiers.
Lesotho have also approached the German embassy in Maseru to help them in their search for a coach. German government co-operation over the last 30 years has seen countless German coaches working across Africa.
The Basotho government has delegated Makalo Theko, the principal secretary of the ministry of sport, to help with the Lesotho Football Association in its search.
Lesotho have never before been coached by a foreigner.
Mauritius, who fired the Frenchman Patrick Parizon in 2002, beat South Africa 2-0 in January with a tandem of locals of charge – Elvis Antoine and Rajesh Gunesh.
MALAWI UNVEIL TRIO OF COACHES
Malawi have announced a bizarre plan to have a trio of coaches jointly take charge of their national team for a year before they choose the best of them to become the team boss.
But the plan is already falling apart after one of the trio announced was not interested in the unusual arrangement.
Yasine Osman, who previously served as coach of Malawi from 1985 to 1987, said he was not prepared to share the job on a part-time basis with another two candidates.
Last week, the Football Association of Malawi decided to appoint Osman along with Kinnah Phiri and John Kaputa as joint coaches.
Osman is also a former international and served as general-secretary of the association.
Phiri, one of the country’s most famous players, recently returned home after working in Swaziland. He is also coach of Bakili Bullets, who are set to qualify for the last 16 of the African Champions League this weekend.
Kaputa has been administrative manager of the Malawi side for several years but is now turned into a coach.
Malawian officials said each individual’s performance would be assessed over the next year before a decision on who would get the job full-time.
Phiri has already told local reporters he is also unhappy with the arrangement.
“I have made it very clear that I’ll only accept the appointment if I will be in charge of the team,” Phiri told The Nation newspaper at the weekend.
But football association spokesman McCollins Chibvunde said: “We want all three coaches to work as a team because that is the most important aspect.”
Malawi host Morocco, runners-up at the recent African Nations Cup finals, in Blantyre on June 5 in their opening match in group five of the African zone qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup finals.
They also have reigning African champions Tunisia, Botswana, Guinea and Kenya in their group.
ANGOLA TO CALL-UP PLAYERS
Angola will call-up eight Portuguese-based players for next month's Cosafa Castle Cup tie against Namibia in Luanda on May 9, the federation's general secretary Delcio Costa said.
They are goalkeeper Joao Pereira from Moreirense, defender Kali from Santa Clara, Andre of Boavista, Rats of Felgueiras, Maurito of Uniao Leiria, Marco Paulo of Estoril, Bodunha from Naval de Maio and Zuela, from struggling Academica Coimbra.
Also called up is Gilberto, the talented attacking midfielder with Egypt's Al Ahli.
Maurito scored against Morocco in Angola's friendly match last month where they lost 3-1 in Rabat while Marco Paulo made his international debut in that match.
Angola, who have twice before won the annual southern African championship, are using the tournament as a warm-up for their tough World Cup qualifying group, which starts in June.
Angola share the same group with Nigeria and Algeria - who have both previously been to the World Cup finals - as well as Gabon, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Costa, who was the match commissioner for Sunday's Cosafa Castle Cup first round match between Mozambique and Madagascar in Maputo, said his country would be a virtual full strength for the match against Namibia.
MOZAMBIQUE'S BLEND TRIUMPHS
Mozambique's new blend of young and old proved victorious in Maputo on Sunday as the Mambas beat Madagascar 2-0 in the first round of the Cosafa Castle Cuip.
The combination of veteran players, like captain Tico-Tico and burly defender Tomas with four teenagers promoted from the under-20 side, suggested an exciting new beginning for the Mozambicans, rebuilding their side after the disappointment of early elimination in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers last November.
Tico-Tico scored midway through the first half and substitute Fala-Fala added a second goal just before the final whistle to ensure Mozambique progress through to the quarter-finals of the annual southern African championship.
Mozambique, playing only their second match under new Egyptian coach Ayman Elyamany, dominated the play with almost 60 percent of the possession and a positive corner count of 15 to five.
But it took them 64 minutes to finally find reward for their territorial superiority when Tico-Tico blasted home from close range after Nelinho split the visitors' defence with a short pass.
The South African-based striker had been given a free role throughout the game but played far too deep to be effective until his Jomo Cosmos clubmate To was brought on as a second-half substitute.
Mozambique could have been two up inside the first five minutes but were denied by two fine saves by the Malagasy goalkeeper Jean-Chrysostome Raharison.
Madagascar had few chances but looked dangerous with their pace on the counter-attack but were hampered by a lack of height and physical strength against the tall Mozambique defence.
The second goal for the Mambas came on the stroke of full time as man of the match when Nelinho drove the ball and Raharison failed to hold on, presenting an easy tap in for Fala-Fala.
It was his first appearance for the side and Fala-Fala's debut was celebrated with a first goal. Angola host Namibia in Luanda on May 9 in the next match in the competition.
SA SQUAD FOR TRAINING CAMP
Peterborough United defender Mark Arber has named by South Africa in a squad of 21 foreign-based players who are to assemble for a three day training camp in England later this month, the South African Football Association said on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Arber, a former apprentice at Tottenham Hotspur, was born in South Africa when his father Bobby played soccer for the now-defunct Johannesburg club Rangers.
He is one of two uncapped players named by new national coach Stuart Baxter, who will get his first opportunity to work with his players.
The other uncapped player is right wing Rowen Hendricks from Russian club FC Rostov.
The return of FC Porto striker Benni McCarthy's to the South African national team after his short "retirement" from international football has been confirmed with his inclusion in the squad.
McCarthy missed the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia earlier this year after a row over his availability for the tournament .
The South Africans will assemble from April 26-29 at Pennyhill Park in Surrey for the camp.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Emile Baron (Lillestrom, Norway), Hans Vonk (SC Heerenveen, Netherlands)
Defenders: Mark Arber (Peterborough United, England), Bradley Carnell (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Mark Fish (Charlton Athletic, England), Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Mbulelo Mabizela (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Aaron Mokoena (Racing Genk, Belgium), Thabang Molefe (Le Mans, France), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos,
Greece)
Midfielders: Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Lance Davids (1860 Münich, Germany), Rowan Hendricks, Bennett Mnguni (both FC Rostov, Russia), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Dillon Sheppard (Dynamo Moscow, Russia)
Strikers: Shaun Bartlett (Charlton Athletic, England), George Koumantarakis (Preston North End, England), Benedict McCarthy (FC Porto, Portugal), Siyabonga Nomvete (Salernitana, Italy), Glen Salmon (FC Groningen, Netherlands).
NEW FACES FOR COSAFA MATCH
Both Mozambique and Madagascar attempt to wipe away the cobwebs after their failure in the World Cup preliminaries last year and return to a winning trail in the first round of the Cosafa Castle Cup in Maputo on Sunday.
Both will be introducing several new players to the national team, and have new coaches in charge of their team.
The Egyptian Ayman Elyiamany, who was on the technical staff of Mali’s side when they reached the semifinals of the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia 10 years ago, is the new coach of Mozambique’s Mambas.
He had his first game in charge of the national side last Sunday when they beat Swaziland 2-0 in Namaacha in a warm-up international.
Odon Michel Razafintsalama takes charge of the Madagascar side, devoid of their foreign-based players.
The Mambas were eliminated by Guinea in the World Cup qualifiers in November, losing 3-5 on aggregate over two legs, and now have only the Cosafa Castle Cup as official competition until 2006 when they can try again in the qualifiers for the 2008 Nations Cup.
Madagascar lost controversially to Benin at the same time and also have a large void looming in their calendar unless they progress in the annual southern African championship.
Elyiamany has taken over from the Russian Viktor Bondarenko as coach of Mozambique but on a caretaker basis. He was formerly the coach of the Mozambican junior teams and has promoted many players from the under-20 side up to the national team.
But the new coach will still be relying on the experience of striker Tico-Tico and other four other players from clubs in neighbouring South Africa.
Mozambique have also recalled defender Dario Khan and midfielder Gabito, who now play for Al Hilal in Sudan. They were in the Al Hilal side who scored a surprise 1-0 win in Cairo last Saturday over Al Ahli in the African Champions League.
Missing from the Mozambican team will be Paito and Dario. Paito has not been released by Sporting Lisboa and Dario, now playing in the United Arab Emirates, is also needed by his club this weekend, Elyiamany said.
'We have prepare well for the match and we will be taking an attacking approach to the game. We have done the work," the new coach said.
TICO-TICO TO LEAD MAMBAS
By Mark Gleeson
Veteran striker Tico-Tico will lead Mozambique’s attack this weekend when they meet Madagascar in the first round of the Cosafa Castle Cup.
New Mozambican coach Ayman Mohamed, who is from Egypt, has not called up any of the country’s overseas-based stars, including Dario Monteiro, Paito and the injured Armando of Benfica.
Instead he has had to look across the border to South Africa for experience to boost the Mambas for the match at the Machava stadium in Maputo on Sunday.
Tico-Tico, who has now been in the Mozambique side for 13 successive years, is the country’s all-time leading goal scorer with 21 goals and along with Chiquinho Conde arguably the most influential footballer for the country since independence in 1976.
Tico-Tico, 30, is likely to be partnered up front by his Jomo Cosmos teammate To.
Three other players from South African clubs are also called up - Tomas, the defender from Orlando Pirates, Nando from Black Leopards and Mane-Mane from Dynamos.
Nando scored for Mozambique on Sunday when they beat Swaziland 2-0 in a warm-up international at Namaacha.
Mozambique are seeking to join Botswana and Mauritius, who have already won their first round matches, in the quarter-finals in June.
Angola meet Namibia in Luanda on May 9 in the last of the first round matches. Defending champions Zimbabwe, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia have byes into the quarter-finals of the annual southern African championship..
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Kapango (Ferroviario Maputo), Leonel (Costa do Sol)
Defenders: Dario Khan (Ferroviario Maputo), Jotamo (Costa do Sol), Mane-Mane (Dynamos, South Africa), Mano (Desportivo Maputo), Miro (Maxaquene), Nando (Black Leopards, South Africa), Quito (Ferroviario Maputo), Tomas (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Vicente (Ferroviario Maputo)
Midfielders: Fala-Fala (Desportivo Maputo), Gabito (Khartoum, Sudan), Ginho, Nelinho (both Ferroviario Maputo)
Strikers: Amilcar (Costa do Sol), Tico-Tico, To (both Jomo Cosmos, South Africa)
DODGE BACK FOR SWAZILAND
Swaziland have appointed Dumisa 'Dodge' Mahlalela as their new national team coach, marking his third spell in charge of the side, officials said at the weekend.
Mahlalela previously quit the post in December 2002 after suffering from depression and an attempted suicide.
He was also in charge of the Swazi national side from 1992-1993 and then again almost a decade later from 2000 to 2002, winning eight matches in 27 outings in charge of tiny southern African kingdom.
Mahlalela had returned to coaching last year in charge of the Swazi club side Young Buffaloes.
Since his last departure from the national team, Mandla Dlamini and the veteran German coach Werner Bickelhaupt have coached Swaziland.
MADAGASCAR SQUAD FOR COSZAFA MATCH
Madagascar’s new coach Odon Michel Razafintsalama has left out all of the country’s foreign-based players for the weekend’s Cosafa Castle Cup first round tie in Mozambique. Madagascar play their first match of the year in Maputo on Sunday in the regional southern African championship and will take an 18-man squad drawn only from locally-based clubs. Razafintsalama has included uncapped goalkeeper Anthony Rasolondrazana, who will 32 in September, and the 18-year-old forward forward Norbert Marc Fydelis. Madagascar has a considerable number of internationals who play in France and their Indian Ocean island territory, Reunion. But last year the islanders won just one of their 13 matches played and were eliminated in the early stages of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers by Benin.
BLATTER TO VISIT SA’S 2010 BID
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to visit South Africa later this month in his final trip this year to each of the five African countries bidding to host the 2010 World Cup finals. Blatter has been invited by the South African government to attend celebrations marking 10 years of the country’s first democratic elections. He is due to arrive in Johannesburg on April 25 and meet with South Africa President Thabo Mbeki and expected to be accompanied by several key members of the FIFA executive committee. The 24 committee members vote in Zurich on May 15 to decide the host of the 2010 World Cup finals, the first to be held in Africa. South Africa are up against Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. Blatter visited Morocco and Libya last week and was in Cairo last month. He had also been to Tunisia twice during the African Nations Cup finals earlier in the year.
NEW COACH TO ARRIVE IN SA
New South Africa coach Stuart Baxter is to arrive in the country on Saturday to start his two year contract in charge of the country’s national team.
Officials said Baxter would watch two cup matches at the weekend and meet with coaches and owners of the country’s leading clubs in visits to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
The former England under-19 coach was named last week as the replacement for Ephraim Mashaba, fired before the start of the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia earlier this year where South Africa failed to get past the first round.
His appointment drew criticism from the country’s media, who blasted the South African Football Association for failing to attract a coach with a higher profile.
But a charm offensive by the English-born coach, who has previously worked in Sweden, Norway, Portugal and Japan, has tempered the criticism in recent days.
Baxter watched South Africa’s friendly international against Australia in London on Tuesday and pronounced himself impressed with the talent at his disposal.
“I am massively excited about the job and looking forward to getting started. It’s a challenge,” he told Reuters.
“It’s my intention to learn as much as I can about the local game as quickly as possible.”
Baxter said he planned to hold at least two training camps for the country’s foreign and locally-based players in the next two months before his first official assignment at the start of the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.
South Africa play the Cape Verde Island at home on June 5 in their opening African zone group two match. The venue has still to be decided.
SOUTH LADIES HAVE GOT A BUG
The deciding match in the qualifiers for Africa's sole place at the women's football tournament at this year's Olympic Games has been postponed for the second time until Tuesday, officials said on Monday. A stomach bug has laid low 12 of the South African squad, who were due to meet Nigeria in Abuja last Friday. Three had been taken to hospital with acute food poisoning, the South African Football Association said. The match was postponed until Sunday and then postponed again when South Africa said they could only field eight fit players if the game went ahead on Sunday, as ordered by FIFA. Officials said the match must be played on Tuesday. Nigeria are heavily fancied to win after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Pretoria earlier this month.
MOZAMBIQUE’S NEW COACH
Egyptian Ayman Mohamed has taken over as the new national coach of Mozambique after the country’s football federation failed to reach agreement with championship-winning coach Arnaldo Salvado, officials said on Tuesday. Mohamed has been put in charge of the side for the Cosafa Castle Cup match against Madagascar in Maputo on April 18 and a warm-up friendly at home to Swaziland on April 4. Mohamed had previously been working with Mozambique’s junior national teams. Salvado had been the first choice to take over the job after the resignation of the Russian coach Viktor Bondarenko last November. Salvado is the coach of the country’s champion club Maxaquene, who were knocked out of the African Champions League at the weekend.
NDLOVU IS ZIMBABWE’S BEST
Sheffield United striker Peter Ndlovu was named Zimbabwean Sportsman of the Year for 2003 in Harare on Saturday. It is the second time that the captain of the Zimbabwe team has won the award, but the triumph came more than a decade after the first in 1992, when a teenage Ndlovu had just moved to English premier league club Coventry City. Now 31, Ndlovu was chosen ahead of 22 other nominees for the award. Zimbabwe cricket captain Heath Streak was the runner-up.
ANGOLA NAME FIVE NEW CAPS
Angola on Friday named five uncapped players in their squad for their friendly match against Morocco on March 31.
Coach Oliviera Goncalves, taking charge of his second match since replacing the Brazilian Ismael Kurtz late last year, named a traveling party of 19 players for the match at Casablanca, nine of them from clubs in Portugal’s first and second divisions.
The uncapped players are Uniao Leiria strikers Freddy and Maurito, Marcos Paulo from second division Estoril and Loco and Mateus, based with clubs in Angola.
The match serves as part of Angola’s preparations for the group phase of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers which start in June.
Angola have been drawn in the same group as Algeria, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Squad:
Goalkeeper: Lama (Petro Atletico), Joao Ricardo (Moreirense, Portugal)
Defenders: Bodunha (Naval de Maio, Portugal), Jamba (AS Aviacao), Kali (Santa Clara, Portugal), Kikas (InterClube), Loco (Petro Atletico)
Midfielders: Figueiredo (Santa Clara, Portugal), Gilberto (Al Ahli, Egypt), Kadima (AS Aviacao), Mateus (AS Aviacao), Mendonca (Varzim, Portugal), Stopirra (Primeiro Agosto)
Strikers: Akwa (Qatar SC, Qatar), Bruno Mauro (Varzim, Portugal), Freddy (Uniao Leiria, Portugal), Love (AS Aviacao), Marco Paulo (Estoril, Portugal), Maurito (Uniao Leiria, Portugal).
BARTLETT BACK FOR BAFANA
South Africa’s top goal scorer Shaun Bartlett is to return to the national team for the friendly international against Australia at the end of the month after missing out on the recent African Nations Cup finals.
Bartlett is one of several regular players who return to the side for the match at Loftus Road on March 30 after missing the Nations Cup finals in Tunisia where South Africa failed to get past the first round.
Bartlett had announced a premature ‘retirement’ from international football last year to avoid being called up to play in January and February’s tournament while he sought to strengthen his chances of a new contract from his English premier league club Charlton Athletic.
Bartlett, after talks last months with the South African Football Association, has now agreed to return. The 31-year-od has scored 26 goals in 64 appearances for his country.
Also returning are Bradley Carnell, who has not played since the 2002 World Cup finals, and goalkeeper Hans Vonk, dropped on the eve of the last World Cup.
Midfielder Steven Pienaar of Ajax Amsterdam is back from the knee injury that kept him out of the tournament in Tunisia while there is a first call up for teenager Lance Davids, who made his Bundesliga debut in November.
But South African officials have proven unsuccessful in persuading the FC Porto striker Benni McCarthy to return for the match after he also quit international football last year because a clash with club commitments.
The association, however, has invited him to be a guest at the game, to be played at the home of first division Queen’s Park Rangers.
PHUMO STILL IN CHARGE
Styles Phumo, who was at the helm of South Africa’s abortive African Nations Cup finals campaign, will again take charge of the country’s team for their friendly against Australia later this month, the South African Football Association confirmed on Wednesday.
Phumo remains caretaker coach of South Africa until a new coach is appointed, which officials said would likely happen just days before the match against the Socceroos in London on March 30.
Phumo, 63, had taken over from Ephraim Mashaba on the eve of the Nations Cup finals in Tunisia when Mashaba was fired in a row over the selection of key foreign-based players.
Phumo’s five matches in charge in January and February saw South Africa win only once and fail to get past the first round of the Nations Cup finals for the first time in five appearances at the bi-annual continental championship.
Phumo is to name his squad for the Australia match on Thursday with estranged foreign-based players like Shaun Bartlett, Bradley Carnell; and Hans Vonk likely to be recalled.
Officials have also confirmed Steve Pienaar of Ajax Amsterdam, who missed the Nations Cup through injury, would be called up for the friendly.
ZWANE BAN REDUCED TO SIX MONTHS
A two year drug ban imposed on former South African international Arthur Zwane has been reduced to six months on appeal, the South African Football Association ruled on Sunday.
The Kaizer Chiefs winger, who won five caps for South Africa, had been banned in January after testing positive for methyl-testosterone.
But the ban was reduced on appeal, allowing Zwane to return to action at the start of next season in August.
Zwane was also given an effective R25 000 fine (about US$3750). He was the third drug cheat caught in South African football over the last year.
On Monday, Chiefs suspended another international Jabu Pule for 30 days after he went truant before a vital cup tie last month.
FORTUNE FACES EXPENSIVE CLAIM
A claim against Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune by his former agent will resume in a Cape Town High Court on Wednesday with former footballer Colin Gie seeking to claim 20 percent of the footballer’s fortune.
Gie, who acted as Fortune’s agent for more than a decade, is seeking to compel the South African international to honour a management agreement in which he claims he is entitled to 20 percent of Fortune’s earnings.
The Manchester United player, who split from his agent last year, is opposing the action. He is not expected to be in court, although is out of action for the rest of the English premier league season with injury.
Earlier this month, Fortune’s legal team argued the agreement between the two was in conflict with standard regulations, exceeding the maximum duration of a contract with a players agent as well as exceeding standard remuneration agreements.
Fortune’s lawyers argued that under FIFA rules agents were only entitled to a two year contract with a player and five percent remuneration after taxation.
Gie, who discovered Fortune as a teenager in Cape Town’s tough Kewlands neighbourhood, is insisting he had a 15-year agreement and was entitled to receive 20 percent of Fortune’s gross earnings.
The agreement had been signed in May, 1998.
It included a 20 percent share of all wages, salaries, signing-on fees, appearance monies, transfer fees, royalties and commissions, according to documents placed before the court earlier this month.
But Fortune is insisting he was made to sign in “an unscrupulous and unconscionable manner,” his submission said.
Fortune and Gie used to co-own a first division side named after the Manchester United footballer.
The side, which is on course for promotion to South Africa’s premier league, is still run by Gie, who played professional football in South Africa before turning to coaching and player management.
FREAK ACCIDENT KOs FISH
South African defender Mark Fish will be out for the rest of the English premier season after undergoing emergency surgery on Sunday after a freak accident on his 30th birthday.
The Charlton Athletic player fell onto a grass table in his lounge and cut a deep wound in his back, requiring 39 stitches.
Fish, who had hosted a sumptuous birthday party the previous evening, had been playing with his five year old Luke at the time. Fish lost his balance and fell through the table.
Paramedics were summoned to his home in London to take Fish to hospital.
Fish, who has 60 caps, had also been due to make his international return for South Africa in a friendly international against Australia in London on March 30.
He has not played for South Africa for almost four years, discarded by Carlos Queiroz when he South African coach.
CAPS TRIO DIE IN ZIMBABWE ACCIDENT
Three Zimbabwean footballers, including international midfielder Blessing Makunike, were killed on Sunday in a car accident after returning from a league match in Bulawayo, reports on Monday said.
The three players from CAPS United, along with two of the club’s supporters, died when their car spun out of control, hit the pillar of a bridge and burst into flame, the state-owned Herald newspaper reported.
The two other players were Shingirai Alron, 29, and Garry Mashoko, whose age was not given.
They were returning to Harare from Bulawayo after a premier league match on Saturday, where their club had won 2-1 and Makunike had scored a goal.
Officials said the players had decided to accept a lift with two supporters rather than travel in the slower team bus.
Makunike scored two goals in 13 appearances for Zimbabwe. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar gave him his international debut in 1998 as a surprise selection in the Cosafa Castle Cup final against Zambia.
Last season Makunike spent six month on loan at Javor Ivanjica in Serbia and Montenegro last season but left after they were relegated in May.
BRAVE WARRIORS NEW COACH
Namibia have appointed Max Johnson as their new national coach, replacing the veteran German trainer Peter Ueberjahn who resigned last year, officials said on Thursday.
Johnson, who is a primary school headmaster in the northern town of Tsumeb, will take charge of the Cosafa Castle Cup first round match against Angola in Luanda in May.
Ueberjahn, who had two different spells as coach of Namibia, resigned after last November’s 4-1 aggregate defeat by Rwanda in the preliminary round of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.
Johnson is also coach of the premier league side Chief Santos, a job he does on a part-time basis.
Namibia have now had 12 coaching changes in as many years since entering the international football arena in 1992.
The southern African country were surprise qualifiers for the 1998 African Nations Cup finals but since the beginning of 2001 have lost 19 out of 26 internationals played.
SEARCH FOR FOREIGN COACH STARTS
By Thabang Matjama
The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) have begun the search for a foreign coach to take charge of the national team after the side’s exit from the Cosafa Castle Cup last month.
Lesotho were beaten in nerve wracking penalty shoot-out loss by Botswana after a goalless draw in Maseru
The kingdom’s soccer governing body, working in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, has cast its eyes on Germany where they hope to lure a coach who will be responsible for the senior soccer team as well as all the junior teams.
Ministry of Sport principal secretary Makalo Theko said he and LeFA officials scheduled to meet the German Ambassador to investigate the hiring of a coach before June. Budget has been put aside by the ministry for the coach’s salary.
This will be the first time the Lesotho national soccer team is coached by a foreigner.
PAINE TO HELP SA FIND COACH
Former England international Terry Paine has been asked by South Africa to help decide on their next national coach from a list that includes former England manager Glenn Hoddle, the Frenchman Roger Lemerre and former Italian international Gianluca Vialli.
The former Southampton winger, who was a member of the 1966 World Cup winning squad, is a member of a five-man selection team put together by the South African Football Association at a meeting in Johannesburg on Saturday.
They have been tasked with finding a coach by May 1, one month before South Africa start their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Officials said an extensive list of candidates had been put together for the position, which will offer a two-year contract up until the end of the 2006 World Cup finals.
Others named by South African officials include former Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson and Roy Hodgson, the Englishman who took Switzerland to the World Cup finals in 1994 and was fired last month as coach of the United Arab Emirates.
Lemerre last month took Tunisia to the African Nations Cup title and was expected to sign a contract extension with the new African champions in the next weeks.
Fellow Frenchman Pierre Lechantre, who was at the helm when Cameron won the African Nations Cup title in 2000, is also on the list of prospective candidates, officials said.
The inclusion of Paine on the selection list suggests officials are keen to hire a coach from Britain for the first time.
Paine has lived in South Africa for the last 20 years and was a coach in the country’s first division before becoming a television pundit.
South Africa have had 10 national team coaches in just over a decade of international competition, all but two of them locals.
In January, South Africa fired Ephraim Mashaba on the eve of the team’s departure for Tunisia and replaced him with his assistant Styles Phumo.
South Africa did not make it past the first round in Tunisia -- the first time in five successive Nations Cup tournaments that they have not made the quarter-final stage at the continental championship.
SALVADO BACK AS MAMBAS COACH
Arnaldo Salvado has been appointed as the new national coach of Mozambique, returning to the job for a second time, the Mozambican Football Federation announced on Friday.
Salvado, who won the league title with Maputo club Maxaquene last season, replaces the Ukrainian coach Viktor Bondarenko, who resigned after the Mozambicans were eliminated from the 2006 World Cup qualifiers last November.
Salvado, who also won three Mozambican championships with Ferroviario Maputo, was national coach between 1996 and 2000, including taking the side to the 1998 African Nations Cup finals in Burkina Faso.
He was in charge of 53 matches, winning 13, drawing 13 and losing 27 in his first stint as national coach.
Salvado’s first match back in charge will be the Cosafa Castle Cup first round tie against Madagascar in Maputo on April 18.
BOTSWANA EDGE LESOTHO IN SHOOTOUT
Botswana won a dramatic penalty shootout to edge past Lesotho and into the quarter-finals of the Cosafa Castle Cup after the two sides played out a goalless draw in Maseru on Sunday.
It took 28 kicks before Botswana won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 11-10 in a nerve wracking sequence that was finally ended when former Lesotho captain Lehlohonolo Seema hit his country's 14th kick wide of goal.
The result is heartbreaking for the mountain kingdom, who had also lost to Botswana in the World Cup qualifiers last year and will now be without
international football until the first round of next year's southern African championship.
But Lesotho have only themselves to blame after squandering several chances in the match.
Bushy Moletsane came closest midway through the second half when his shot battled the crossbar but poor finishing saw the other opportunities wasted.
"When it is not meant to be your day, then it is not your day," lamented coach Mafa Ramakau after the elimination, which is likely to cost him his job.
Botswana, who had American-based striker Dipsy Selolwane in their team, were on the back foot but could also have snatched victory when Selolwane had a free header on goal but tamely steered the ball into the hands of a grateful Lesotho goalkeeper Thabo Khoboli.
But Selolwane set the pace in the penalty shootout which Botswana led 2-0
before Lesotho came back to tie it at 3-3 after the first five kicks.
The nerve wracking shootout then continued until Seema stepped up and missed. Last year the same player also missed the last kick when Lesotho
were eliminated 5-4 on penalties by Mozambique in the first rounfd of the annual regional competition.
The win set off wild celebrations by at least 2,000 traveling Botswana fans who had drove up to eight hours by road to cheer on their team.
"It was fortunate for our team and our supporters but I'm grateful for the win," said Botswana Serbian coach Vesselin Jelusic.
SA BID TO GET STARS BACK
South African football made its first bid this week to persuade its disaffected stars to return to the national team after the side’s disappointing performance at the African Nations Cup.
South African Football Association president Molefi Oliphant held discussions in London with Charlton Athletic duo Shaun Bartlett and Mark Fish and also spoke to Dutch-based goalkeeper Hans Vonk and the Borussia Moenchengladbach defender Bradley Carnell, officials said.
They were among a host of key players who were left out of the South African squad for the tournament in Tunisia after falling out with previous coach Ephraim Mashaba.
Mashaba was fired on the eve of the tournament but the change proved too late for South Africa, who failed to get past the first round group phase for the first time in five successive Nations Cup finals appearances.
A SAFA spokesman said Oliphant flew to Britain this week to reopen contact with the players, who have all been caught in on-going club versus country rows.
Oliphant has also sought a meeting with Manchester United’s Quinton Fortune, who has ignored overtures from his country’s football association over the last year.
A response to a request for a meeting is being awaited from the player and the English champions.
Oliphant is also to seek a return to international duty of the striker Benni McCarthy, whose two goals for FC Porto against Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday highlighted his absence in the Nations Cup.
McCarthy won his 50th cap for South Africa in November but then announced his ‘retirement’ when Mashaba refused to allow him to skip the two-week pre-Nations Cup training camp in early January.
McCarthy’s agent met with Oliphant in London on Monday.
South Africa are also seeking to appoint a new coach ahead of the start of the World Cup qualifiers in June.
COSAFA MATCH OFFICIALS
Appointments of match officials for the remaining Cosafa Castle Cup first round matches:
LESOTHO v BOTSWANA, Maseru, Sunday
REFEREE
Arvo Mufeti (Namibia)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Dawid Haufiki (Namibia)
Sakeus Kweyo (Namibia)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Lekuta Sekoati (Lesotho)
MATCH COMMISSIONER
Wallace Mabuza (Swaziland)
REFEREE INSPECTOR
Frank Valdemarca (Zimbabwe)
MOZAMBIQUE v MADAGASCAR, Maputo, April 18
REFEREE
Jerome Damon (South Africa)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Enoch Molefe (South Africa)
Amos Mlambo (South Africa)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Julio Mungoi (Mozambique)
MATCH COMMISSIONER
Delcio Costa (Angola)
REFEREE INSPECTOR
Dintle Mphele (Botswana)
ANGOLA v NAMIBIA, Luanda, May 9
OFFICIALS
REFEREE
Elphas Ngcamphalala (Swaziland)
ASSISTANT REFEREES
Lynah Sibiya (Swaziland)
Simanga Nhleko (Swaziland)
FOURTH OFFICIAL
Pedro Simao (Angola)
MATCH COMMISSIONER
tba
REFEREE INSPECTOR
tba
BASOTHO RECALL VETERAN STARS
Lesotho have recalled several of their tried and tested internationals in order to enhance their chances of ending two years of miserable results.
Coach Mafa Ramakau oversaw the dismantling of the Lesotho team which reached the final of the 2000 Cosafa Castle Cup and the subsequent building of a new young side.
But after winning just eight of the 37 games he has been in charge of since September, 2000, Ramakau is forced to turn back to veteran players who provided the bulk of the side that were finalists in the southern African championship four years ago.
Giant striker Teele Ntsonyana, former captain Tsepo Hlojeng and nippy forward Kabelo Mosothoane are among the experienced footballers recalled into an 18-man squad for Sunday’s Cosafa Castle Cup first round tie in Maseru.
Lesotho play against Botswana, who beat them 4-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round of the World Cup qualifiers late last year.
It is the second match in this year’s competition. Mauritius upset South Africa 2-0 in the opening game in Curepipe on January 10.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Thabo Khoboli, Tsepo Mathetha (both Lesotho Prisons Service)
Defenders: Tsepo Hlojeng (Mphatlalatsane), Thabang Mahlakajoe (Matlama), Mpitsa Marai (Lesotho Prisons Service), Motlatsi Maseela (Lioli), Khoto Sesinyi (Lesotho Prisons Service)
Midfielders: Shalane Lehohla (Lesotho Prisons Service), Bushy Moletsane (Matlama), Malefetsane Pheko (Lesotho Defence Force), Moses Ramafole (Lesotho Prisons Service), Thulo Ranchobe (Lesotho Defence Force), Lehlohonolo Seema (Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa)
Struikers: Masupa Majara (Lesotho Defence Force), Kabelo Mosothoane (Linare), Paballo Mpakanyane (Welkom Stars, South Africa), Lebajoa Mphongoa (Bloemfontein Celtic, South Africa), Teele Ntsonyana (Maseru Swallows)
SA TO PLAY SOCCEROOS
South Africa’s national team, embarrassingly eliminated after the first round of the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia earlier his month, will be back in action at the end of March, having agreed to play a friendly match against Australia.
The long-standing rivals will meet at London’s Loftus Road, the home of second division frontrunners Queen’s Park Rangers.
The match is being played in Britain at the behest of the Australians, who draw almost all of their players from around Europe and find it easier to avoid the lengthy travel back down under for international friendlies.
The vast bulk of the Socceroos are drawn from British and continental clubs.
This week Australia asked FIFA to invoke a weekend ban on striker Mark Viduka, who has a one-match suspension after missing Australia’s 1-1 draw with Venezuela in Caracas on Wednesday.
It means he will be unavailable for Leeds United's vital fixture against Manchester United.
Viduka, ironically, made his international debut for Australia in a match against South Africa in Adelaide in 1994.
South Africa are still seeking as new coach but officials said he would be in place by the time of the game.
A reciprocal match has been set for February 9, 2005 in South Africa.
Australia and South Africa have a rivalry on the soccer pitch that stretches back to 1947.
MASHABA BACK IN BUSINESS
Former South African coach Ephraim Mashaba, fired just one day before the start of the African Nations Cup finals last month, has taken over at premier league side Black Leopards, the club announced on Wednesday.
Mashaba has signed a two-year contract with the club, based at Thohoyandou in the extreme north of the country.
Leopards are ninth in the 16-team table after 19 matches this season.
Mashaba will replace David Byrne, the son of former England international Budgie Byrne, who has been caretaker coach since late last year.
It will be Mashaba’s first job with a club since the relegation from the top flight of South African football of his last side Vaal Reef Stars in 1992.
He has worked for the South African Football Association since 1993, culminating with his appointment as national coach two years ago.
Mashaba was fired after criticism of his squad selection for the Nations Cup tournament in Tunisia. He failed in a legal bid to win back his job but did receive a settlement of R1-million (about US$150 000).
MPAKANYANE SIGNS FOR STARS
By Thabang Matjama
Following a string of stints with South African sides, Lesotho international striker Paballo Mpakanyane has finally found a new home, signing for first division Welkom Stars until the end of the season.
The 24-year old striker confirmed he had signed for Stars after a frustrating spell at Cape Town club Hellenic.
Mpakanyane had failed to break into the first team at Hellenic, who are bottom of the South African premier league standings.
Mpakanyane expressed his delight at another chance to show his worth. "I will work hard to make Welkom my home for as long as Stars and I are satisfied," said the sprinter, who is also in the Lesotho squad to play Botswana in the Cosafa Castle Cup on February 29.
After being discarded by Hellenic, Mpakanyane failed to strike a deal with another Cape Town club, first division Vasco da Gama.
He was also turned down by Bloemfontein Celtic, who already have two Lesotho internationals in their squad -- Lebajoa Mphongoa and Lehlohonolo Seema.
MAKAKOLE MIGHT YET MAKE CAF EXECUTIVE
By Thabang Matjama
The Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) president Thabo Makakole believes he still has a chance to become a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee, despite losing a bid for election to Suketu Patel of the Seychelles at the CAF congress held in Tunis in January.
Makakole is basing his hopes on claims that CAF are to consider enlarging the size of the executive committee. A meeting is being planned for May ahead of the FIFA Congress in Paris.
Makakole said he had already promises of support from other countries should there be a new election.
Meanwhile, the Lesotho Football Association will be holding elections for the executive committee in April this year. The exact dates have not been announced yet.
BOTSWANA NAME CUP SQUAD
American-based star Diphetogo ‘Dipsy’ Selolwane is to return home at the end of the week to help Botswana in their Cosafa Castle Cup quest in Lesotho next week.
Selolwane is the only high profile export from the southern African country, better known for exporting diamonds.
The striker scored twice for Botswana last year when they defeated Lesotho 4-1 on aggregate in the World Cup preliminary round qualifiers late last year.
Coach Vesslin Jelusic, who has done much over the last year to revive football in Botswana, has also called up midfielder Masego Ntshingane, who plays college soccer in the USA.
Ntshingane scored last year when Malawi drew 1-1 in the quarter-finals but then lost on penalties. Their first round win over Namibia in Windhoek was the first-ever that the Zebras had ever scored in seven years of competing in the annual southern African championship.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Modiri Marumo (Botswana Defence Force XI), Anthony Matengu (Police XI)
Defenders: Ernest Amos (TASC FC), Mogogi Gabonamong (Carlidonia, Trinidad & Tobago), Pius Kolagano (Dangerous Aces, South Africa), Ndiyapo Letysholathebe (Police XI), Michael Mogaladi (Botswana Defence Force XI), Khumo Motlhabane (Botswana Meat Commission)
Midfielders: Phadza Butale (Notwane), Nelson Gabolwelwe (Botswana Defence Force XI), Kabelo Kgosiang (Prisons XI), Eric Molebatsi (Tafic), Tshepo Motlhabankwe (Extension Gunners), Masego Ntshingane (Auburn University Montgomery)
Strikers: Malepa Bolelang (Ecco City), Duncan Kgopolelo (Police XI), Mpho Mabogo (Botswana Defence Force XI), Tshepiso Molwantwa (Township Rollers), Diphetogo Selolwane (Chicago Fire, USA)
SOUTH AFRICA ELIMINATED
Morocco finished top of group D at the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia on Wednesday after a 1-1 hard-fought draw with South Africa in Sousse.
The Moroccans, who had not been given much chance before the tournament by their own coach Badou Ezaki, finished with seven points, ahead of second-placed Nigeria, to qualify for the last eight.
South Africa, who are eliminated, needed to win the match by four goals to go through instead of their opponents but the task proved well beyond their reach.
"They were a physically tough side and we were concerned by them but we had the right tactics to keep them at bay," said Ezaki after the match.
South African striker Patrick Mayo profited from a spill by Morocco goalkeeper Khaled Fouhami to open the scoring midway through the first half but Morocco equalised within 10 minutes.
South African defender Neil Winstanley brought down Ziad Jaziri in the penalty area and Coventry City defender Youssef Safri scored from the subsequent spot kick.
Jaziri proved dangerous on the counter-attack throughout the game and also hit the woodwork.
South Africa battled to create chances but found it difficult against a tight defence, marshaled by Morocco captain Nouredine Naybet.
Naybet, from Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna, won his 100th cap for Morocco to join an elite list of long-serving international, the first African from outside Egypt.
South Africa had the better of the exchanges in a niggling second-half, characterised by a succession of fouls by both teams and a regular turn over of possession.
Striker Siyabonga Nomvete came closest near the end with a shot from a tight angle that rattled the woodwork.
It is the first time that South Africa have failed to get past the first round in five Nations Cup appearances.
Morocco, who are bidding against South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup finals, now meet Algeria in their quarter-final clash in Sfax on Sunday.
PLAYERS CALL FOR CHANGES
Two of South Africa's senior internationals have called for changes to the set-up of the country's national team after they were eliminated from the African Nations Cup finals on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Andre Arendse and Belgian-based defender Aaron Mokoena, who between them have more than 100 caps, were strikingly critical of the attitude of officials and teammates after South Africa failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
A 1-1 draw with Morocco in Sousse meant the former African champions finished behind Morocco and Nigeria in group D and will depart for home on
Friday.
"It is time the players and the coaches change their attitude," said Mokoena, who proved his country's best performer over their three group
matches.
He was referring to alleged splits in the team and among the coaching staff during the tournament.
Arendse, who was a Nations Cup winner with Bafana Bafana in 1996, said South Africa's standard of competitiveness had been drastically reduced over the years.
"We have fallen off the pace a hell of a lot," said the former Fulham and Oxford United goalkeeper, who now plays at Pretoria club Mamelodi Sundowns.
"We have got to look at the long term view and we have to get a coach who can take us into the future," said Arendse.
"We have to learn to stick with one coach, that's the only way forward. We can't keep starting all over again."
South Africa have had 10 different coaches in 11 years since returning to international competition after apartheid-enforced isolation.
The latest, Styles Phumo, took over from Ephraim Mashaba just one day before the team departed for the tournament in Tunisia.
"In 1996 everything was different. The support we had and the way the players responded to the coach," Arendse added.
"I don't know how they run the whole set-up but when you lack these kind of things, it contributes to a poor performance."
Arendse, a veteran of two World Cup finals and four Nations Cup tournaments, says he wants to continue to add to his 67 caps despite now being 36 years-old.
"I'm still enjoying it and as long as the coach chooses me, I'll be there. I
was inspired by trying to win my place back in the team."
Arendse was surprisingly dropped for the first two matches, replaced by Norwegian-based goalkeeper Emile Baron, but restored after last Saturday's 4-0 thrashing by Nigeria in Monastir.
Nigeria truimph South Africa
Nigeria got their African Nations Cup finals campaign back on track with an emphatic 4-0 win over South Africa in Monastir on Saturday, putting aside the expulsion of three players from their camp on Friday.
The Super Eagles rolled over their opponents despite the off-field controversy that had seen Celestine Babayaro, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Victor Agali kicked out of their squad for breaking a late night curfew.
An early goal from Joseph Yobo set Nigeria on their way to their first points in group D when he scored after South African goalkeeper Emile Baron had spilled a corner in the fourth minute.
The Everton defender’s first international goal was a shot from the edge of the area that established Nigeria’s control of the game early on.
Nwankwo Kanu could have added a second in the 14th minute but hesitated enough to allow Baron to make a stop from his shot.
It was captain Austin Okocha who eventually made it 2-0 to become the scorer of the 1,000th goal in Nations Cup finals history.
He netted a penalty after 64 minutes after South African defender had tripped over his own feet in a challenge with Kanu and then grabbed the ball believing he had been fouled and awarded a free kick.
South Africa might have had a penalty of their own three minutes later when Yobo fouled Sibusiso Zuma in the penalty area, but the referee from the United Arab Emirates turned down the team’s protest.
Two superb strikes by substitute Peter Odemwingie in the last 10 minutes doubled the score line to inflict an embarrassing defeat on South Africa, who had come into the tournament with problems of their own after the dismal of coach Ephraim Mashaba.
Odemwingie turned and struck a powerful shot from the right in the 81st minute and then replicated the superbly-struck goal with another from a similar position two minutes later.
It is the second time that Nigeria have beaten South Africa 4-0, which is a record defeat for the country. They also won by the same score in Lagos in a World Cup qualifier in 1992.
South Africa’s only chance of the game came when striker Siyabonga Nomvete, who had scored both goals in their win over Benin in Sfax on Tuesday, was denied by a one-handed stop by Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Nigeria now join South Africa on three points. Morocco, who upset Nigeria in their first match at Monastir on Tuesday, play against Benin in Sfax later on Saturday.
SIBAYA GOES HOME
South African midfielder MacBeth Sibaya has returned home after the death of his brother, officials said.
Sibaya missed Tuesday's 2-0 win for South Africa over Benin in Sfax in their opening group D match in order to fly home but he is expected to be back in Tunisia in time for South Africa's last group match against Morocco in Sousse next week.
Officials did not give the cause of Sibaya's brother's death but it is the third time a South African footballer has had to fly home from a football tournament after the death of a relative.
At the last World Cup finals, midfielder Bennett Mnguni went home briefly to attend the funeral of his brother while defender Leslie Langa had to leave a tournament in Tanzania in 2002 for similar reasons.
BAFANA BAFANA WIN FIRST NATIONS CUP GAME
South Africa showed they still have a hangover from the crisis that affected their side on the eve of the African Nations Cup finals but still managed to beat minnows Benin 2-0 in group D in Sfax.
Bafana Bafana, who had Carlos Queiroz at the helm when they were at the last CAN, fired Ephraim Mashaba on the eve of the tournament and are without six key players at CAN-2004, including Benni McCarthy of FC Porto.
But they were still too strong for newcomers Benin, making their debut at the African championship.
Striker Siyabonga Nomvete scored twice in the second-half to give the South Africans a hard-fought win after he had missed a penalty just before the interval.
Nomvete broke the deadlock after 58 minutes with a glancing header from a free-kick by veteran midfielder John Moshoeu, which was driven across the face of goal.
His second goal was a classy finish, spiriting past two defenders to latch onto a through ball over the top of the Benin defence and drive home the ball.
Nomvete also hit the woodwork in the first serious bit of action in the 38th minute after a languid start to the game.
His penalty miss was a form of justice for the Malian referee Komlan Coulibaly had erred in giving Bafana Bafana the kick.
Benin’s best chance fell to captain Moussa Latoundji just after half-time, when he also drove against the crossbar.
The result comes as a major confidence booster for beleaguered South Africa, who fired their coach Ephraim Mashaba on the eve of their departure for the tournament.
"We did not start well but we showed we were stronger in the end," said captain Mbulelo Mabizela after the game.
South Africa, ranked 87 places above Benin in the FIFA rankings, are missing six of their leading players at the tournament.
South Africa now top the group ahead of Morocco on goal difference. The four teams are in action again on Saturday.
LESOTHO SELECT CUP SQUAD
Thabang Matjama
Likoena coach Mafa “Ribbo” Ramakau has selected his 22-man squad for the COSAFA Castle Cup first round clash against Botswana on February 29.
Under pressure to turn the tables against improved Botswana who are turning out to be Likoena’s hoodoo side, Ramakau has roped in hard running Lebajoa Mphongoa who has been banging goals for South African first division fourth placed side, Bloemfontein Celtic.
With Likoena fans anticipating a cracker and intending to show the visiting Batswana that good things do not come in threes in the Kingdom, Ramakau has added another veteran former Wits University striker, Teele Nts’onyana who now plays for Mazenod Swallows.
Zebras eliminated the Kingdom lads out of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers with a humiliating 4-1 margin on aggregate.
The lanky striker has been Likoena’s steam roller in the regional competition with his vital goals for the Kingdom side, making him Likoena’s all time leading goal-scorer in the competition.
Lesotho have not been performing well in the regional competition, except for their surprise run in 2000 when toppled giants Zambia and Angola on their way to the final.
Likoena fans will be happy to see Lesotho Defence Force’s Lire Phiri back in the senior national team fold. The army team hot shot has been plagued by injuries in the past two seasons, hindering his chances of being selected for the Crocodiles. Thabo Khoboli also makes a comeback after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of action until late last year.
The new faces in Ramakau’s squad are two midfielders, Lifefo’s Peter Mokhobo and Matlama’s Lehlohonolo Mokhele.
The squad:
Goalkeepers; Thabo Khoboli (LPS), Lekunutu Ts’oeunyane (Matlama), Ts’epo Mathetha (LPS)
Defenders; Makhetha Kolisang (LDF), Khoto Sesinyi (LPS), Mpitsa Marai (LPS), Motlatsi Maseela (Lioli), Ts’epo Hlojeng (Mphatlalatsane), Lesoetsa Maliehe (LDF) Thabang Mahlakajoe (Matlama)
Midfielders; Malefetsane Pheko (LDF), Peter Mokhobo (Lifefo), Moses Ramafole (LPS), Lehlohonolo Mokhele (Matlama), Bushy Moletsane (Matlama), Thulo Ranchobe (LDF), Lehlohonolo Seema (Bloem Celtic, SA), Shalane Lehohla (LPS),
Strikers; Lire Phiri (LDF), Teele Nts’onyana (Swallows), Lebajoa Mphongoa (Bloem Celtic, SA) and Kabelo Mosothoane (Linare).
SOUTH AFRICA FIRE COACH
South African have fired coach Ephraim Mashaba one day before the team leaves for the African Nations Cup finals, the South African Football Association said on Thursday.
Mashaba had been suspended for the last seven days for an alleged breach of contract and his dismissal came in a letter submitted during the urgent interdict against his suspension which continued at the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday.
The letter said that Mashaba had failed to make to make any effort to remedy the reasons for his suspension.
“In light of the failure your services are hereby cancelled,” the letter signed by Albert Mokoena, the chief executive officer of SAFA, letter
Announcing Mashaba's suspension on January 7, SAFA said he had failed to monitor the form of the country's foreign-based footballers and to promote SAFA's image.
Officials said then that he could lose his job if he failed to recall players like Manchester United's Quinton Fortune and others who have fallen out with Mashaba in recent months.
Mashaba went to court on Tuesday, seeking to overturn his suspension by arguing that the suspension made it impossible "for me to comply with contractual requirements to remedy the alleged breaches".
The action was postponed to Thursday to allow SAFA to prepare papers. It was at court that Mashaba was served with his dismissal.
The suspension meant Mashaba missed last Saturday’s international in Mauritius, where assistant coach Styles Phumo stepped into his shoes for a Cosafa Castle Cup match which ended in an embarrassing 2-0 defeat for the visitors.
Phumo has been named as his replacement.
The 63-year-coach is South African-born but spent much of his life in neighboring Lesotho, where he was twice coach of the country’s national side. He is also an instructor for the Confederation of African Football (CASF).
South Africa’s team depart on Friday for a friendly in Dakar against Senegal on Sunday and then onto Tunisia on Monday.
South Africa are in Group D at the Nations Cup finals along with Nigeria, Morocco and Benin, who they play in their opening game on January 27.
ZIMBABWE NAME NATIONS CUP SQUAD
Brother Adam and Peter Ndlovu were both named in Zimbabwe’s squad for the African Nations Cup finals on Tuesday, capping international careers which both stretch back more than a decade.
Adam Ndlovu, 33, scored twice for Zimbabwe on his debut in January, 1990 while younger brother Peter, who plays for Sheffield United in the English first division, has been a team regular since September of the same year, capped at the age of just 17.
Coach Sunday Marimo named 12 foreign-based players in his squad for the finals, where Zimbabwe face a tough group with three former winners – Algeria, Cameroon and Egypt – in group C.
They are making their first-ever appearance at the Nations Cup finals.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Tapuwa Kapini (Highlanders), Ephraim Mazarura (Black Rhinos), Energy Murambadoro (CAPS United)
Defenders: Dixon Choto (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Dazzy Kapenya (Sporting Lions), George Mbwando (Alemania Aachen, Germany), Dumisani Mpofu (Umtata Bush Bucks, South Africa), Bhekithemba Ndlovu (Highlanders), Harlington Shereni (Guingamp, France), Kaitano Tembo (SuperSport United, South Africa)
Midfielders: Alois Bunjira (Wits University, South Africa), Leo Kurauzvione (Dynamos), Lazarus Muhoni (Black Rhinos), Tinashe Nengomasha (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Esrom Nyandoro, Ronald Sibanda (both AmaZulu), Charles Yohane (Wits University, South Africa)
Strikers: Joel Luphahla (AEP Paphos, Cyprus), Wilfred Mugeyi (Ajax Cape Town, South Africa), Adam Ndlovu (Dynamos, South Africa), Peter Ndlovu (Sheffield United, England), Agent Sawu (Dynamos).
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