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Bafana v Tanzania confirmed

Johannesburg - The South African Football Association (SAFA) and their Tanzanian counterparts reached agreement late on Wednesday to stage an international friendly game at the national Stadium in Dar es Salaam on May 14, it can be confirmed.

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane confirmed on Wednesday that he has received confirmation from Safa that the match has indeed been finalised and he will announce his squad to tackle the “Taifa Stars” at the 60 000-seater national stadium on the agreed date.

“I wish to thank SAFA and the PSL for their support of our vision,” said Mosimane.

“We have a crucial date with Egypt in Cairo for the African Nations Cup qualifier on June 3 and this will come as a perfect tune-up match for us ahead of that game.

“It goes without saying that if we win that game, we will be in a very good position to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. So this Tanzania game is crucial for us in our preparation for that clash and we will take our strongest possible squad for the match.”

Damas Ndumbaro, a Fifa-accredited match agent confirmed that he has finalised the deal with both Tanzanian FA President Leodegar Tenga and SAFA CEO Pinky Lehoko for the staging of the match on the above date which has already been submitted to FIFA.

SAFA president Kirsten Nematandani also confirmed that Bafana Bafana will play the “Taifa Stars” on the agreed date.

It is not a FIFA date, but the PSL programme will be suspended due to the Nedbank Cup semi-finals and SAFA seized the opportunity to give the national team much-needed match practice.

Indeed with Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Ajax Cape Town all eliminated from the Nedbank Cup, Mosimane will be able to select most of the players that started against Egypt in the recent Afcon qualifier at Coca-Cola Park.

The country’s number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, teammates Yeye Letsholonyane and Simphiwe Tshabalala, Morgan Gould, Siyanda Xulu, Mzuvukile Tom, Prince Hlela, Eric Mathoho, Thanduyise Khuboni, Siyabonga Sangweni and Katlego Mphela will be available for selection.

In addition, Bernard Parker, who has returned from Greece where he has been playing and is currently training with AmaZulu, will also be available for the showdown against a team that is among the rising countries on the continent.

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