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Bafana Bafana can expect a rousing welcome in their first game on home soil since a 1-1 draw with Namibia in early March, as the 30 000 tickets available for the match have reportedly been sold out.
Since playing Namibia, Carlos Alberto Parreira’s team have gone on two training camps in Brazil and Germany and have played three official international friendlies: draws against Paraguay and North Korea (who have both qualified for the World Cup) as well as a 2-0 win over Jamaica in late April.
Locally-based players named in the 29-man preliminary squad have been sweating it out in another training camp in Johannesburg, preparing for the upcoming matches against Thailand, Bulgaria, Columbia and Denmark that will serve as dress rehearsals for the World Cup opening game against Mexico on June 11.
Thailand are listed 105th in FIFA’s official world rankings, some 15 places behind South Africa. The Asian nation have never qualified for a World Cup and their best performance in the AFC Asian Cup (the equivalent of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations) is a third place finish back in 1972. They failed to qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup set to be held in Qatar.
In their attempt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, ‘The War Elephants’ (the national side’s nickname) finished bottom of Group 1 in the third round of Asian qualifying, failing to win a game in their six games against Japan, Bahrain and Oman.
Thailand’s national side is coached by former England and Manchester United legend Bryan Robson, who took over the role from fellow Englishman Peter Reid in September last year.
The squad selected for the match against Bafana Bafana in entirely locally-based, with the majority of players hailing from Chonburi or Muangthong United.
South Africa squad
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Kune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany)
Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Innocent Mdledle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Franklin Cale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)
Forwards: Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Benedict McCarthy (West Ham United, England), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Netherlands)
Thailand squad
Goalkeepers: Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool (Chonburi), Kawin Thamsatchanan (Muangthong United)
Defenders: Nataporn Phanrit (Muangthong United), Suree Sukha (Chonburi), Natthaphong Samana (Chonburi), Chonlatit Jantakam (Chonburi), Panupong Wongsa (Muangthong United), Suttinun Phukhom (Chonburi)
Midfielders: Therdsak Chaiman (Chonburi), Datsakom Thonglao (Muangthong United), Sutee Suksomkit (Bangkok Glass), Phichitphong Choeichiu (Muangthong United), Suchao Nutnum (Buriram PEA), Narongchai Vachiraban (Insee Police United), Rangsan Vivatchaikok (Buriram PEA), Puritat Jarikanon (Chonburi)
Forwards: Teerasil Dangda (Muangthong United), Kirati Keawsombut (Buriram PEA), Kraikitti Inutane (TTM Phichit).
