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Johannesburg - South Africa will face neighbours Swaziland for just the fourth time in an official international match when they head to the National Stadium in Mbabane for a friendly on Friday, 15 November 2013.
Kick-off at 20:30.
The teams’ three previous clashes - all in the COSAFA Cup - have all been won by Bafana Bafana and coach Gordon Igesund will be expecting his team to uphold that 100 percent record.
Igesund has selected an entirely locally-based squad for this encounter and is using the clash with ‘Sihlangu Semnikati’ (King’s Shield) as part of the build-up for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be held in South Africa.
Included in the coach’s selection are no less than nine Orlando Pirates players who have helped the Soweto club end as runners-up in the 2013 CAF Champions League. The Buccaneers were beaten 3-1 on aggregate in the final against Egyptian side Al Ahly.
“This is the first game that we will play in preparation for the CHAN tournament and it’s very important for us to get the rhythm going in the team, because these are some of the players that will play in that event,” said Igesund upon naming the 24-man squad.
“It is as very formidable team and we have a pool of about 38 players who are all fighting to make the final 23 players for the tournament, so is it is very exciting and the match against Swaziland will be a good test for us.”
On the latest FIFA rankings, Swaziland are 183rd in the world and 48th in Africa, some 122 placed below South Africa, who are 61st and 12th respectively.
Kick-off at 20:30.
The teams’ three previous clashes - all in the COSAFA Cup - have all been won by Bafana Bafana and coach Gordon Igesund will be expecting his team to uphold that 100 percent record.
Igesund has selected an entirely locally-based squad for this encounter and is using the clash with ‘Sihlangu Semnikati’ (King’s Shield) as part of the build-up for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be held in South Africa.
Included in the coach’s selection are no less than nine Orlando Pirates players who have helped the Soweto club end as runners-up in the 2013 CAF Champions League. The Buccaneers were beaten 3-1 on aggregate in the final against Egyptian side Al Ahly.
“This is the first game that we will play in preparation for the CHAN tournament and it’s very important for us to get the rhythm going in the team, because these are some of the players that will play in that event,” said Igesund upon naming the 24-man squad.
“It is as very formidable team and we have a pool of about 38 players who are all fighting to make the final 23 players for the tournament, so is it is very exciting and the match against Swaziland will be a good test for us.”
On the latest FIFA rankings, Swaziland are 183rd in the world and 48th in Africa, some 122 placed below South Africa, who are 61st and 12th respectively.
