ACTUALITE |
07.03.2002
South Africa to play six World Cup warm-up matches
JOHANNESBURG
- World Cup qualifiers South Africa will play six warm-up matches ahead of the tournament, the national football association said Wednesday.
Bafana Bafana (The Boys), drawn with Spain, Paraguay and Slovenia in South Korea-based Group B, face fellow finalists Saudi Arabia on March 20 at an undisclosed Italian venue.
The 1996 African champions travel to Tbilisi for a March 27 date with Georgia followed by a Castle Cup southern Africa championship tie in Botswana four days later.
Yugoslavia, a notable absentee from a World Cup to be co-hosted by Japan, visit South Africa for a match on April 17 and there will also be friendlies against unnamed opponents on May 11 and 15.
South Africa made their World Cup debut in France four years ago, losing 3-0 to the hosts and eventual winners, and drawing 1-1 with Denmark and 2-2 with Saudi Arabia.
The present squad is considered much weaker than the 1998 one with a humiliating quarter-finals defeat by hosts Mali last month in the African Nations Cup triggering a coaching reshuffle.
Former star Jomo Sono, coach and owner of Premiership club Jomo Cosmos, has been drafted in to work with Mozambique-born national coach Carlos Queiroz.
World Cup action begins on May 31 in the South Korean capital, Seoul, with a match between defending champions France and shock African qualifiers Senegal.
The final is scheduled for June 30 in Japan.
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