No Top 8 in 2009/10 season

2008-05-14 14:48

Johannesburg - The Premier Soccer League have dropped the Top Eight Cup from their 2009/2010 season fixture list to ensure Bafana Bafana will field a competitive unit at the 2010 Soccer World Cup finals on home soil.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by PSL chairperson Irvin Khoza in an interview.

Said the PSL boss: "We have got the co-operation of the league, the coaches and the sponsors to reschedule the season before the 2010 World Cup. We all know how important it is for Bafana to do well at the World Cup on home soil.

"Just look at the performances from Germany (2006), South Korea and Japan (2002) and France in 1998 who all shone when they hosted the finals. We have to do the same. A competitive and strong Bafana is not only good for our country, but for the overall success of the 2010 World Cup."

The 2009 season will kick-off in August and will go into recess December 14 and then the squad will go to the African Nations Cup finals in Angola. The second round of the league will be completed by the end of March after which the two knockout competitions Nedbank Cup and Telkom Knockout will be played.

"But," added Khoza," We expect clubs at most to have two players in the Bafana squad for the World Cup and those players will be released before the cup competitions to the coach (Joel Santana) to prepare for the finals.

Pipeline

"We decided to finish the league early so that the relegation issues will be sorted out. By playing the cup competitions in April and May means there is a cup and not relegation at stake, so that coaches will not be under pressure. We are delighted by the way clubs and sponsors have supported this idea."

Khoza also stressed they would work on plans to look after and keep those clubs knocked out early, busy. But those plans are still in the pipeline."

What this means is failure to qualify for Angola in 2010 is not an option for Santana who is expected to arrive in Johannesburg by the weekend to take charge of the national squad, after the shock resignation last month of fellow Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, due to the ill health of his wife.

Said Khoza: "There is no question we have to qualify for Angola. That is a huge priority."

Khoza said he believed Nigeria hold the key to Bafana's success in Group Four. Bafana's new coach could not have asked for a tougher baptism than the one that awaits him in Abuja, Nigeria, on June 1 in the opening qualifying match.

Bafana then play Equatorial Guinea at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium on June 7, Sierra Leone in Gambia on June 14 and end a tough back-to-back four match programme with a return game at the Super Stadium on June 21 against Equatorial Guinea.

Super Eagles

Said Khoza: "Nigeria are the key. I strongly believe we can upset them at home. They are not in the best shape after falling out at the quarter-finals of the Afcon tournament in Ghana in January.

Khoza, who is also Orlando Pirates chairperson, has not lost sight of the fact that the man now in charge of the Super Eagles is a former Bucs coach.

Nigeria lost German born coach Bertie Vogts after Ghana and ironically the man now in charge is a former Bucs coach, Shuaibu Amodu.

Amodu coached Pirates around 1998 and then coached the Super Eagles during the 2000 Afcon tournament when Nigeria beat Bafana in the semi-finals 2-0.

Khoza was optimistic:: "I am sure we will have a better result this time. A win over Nigeria would set the tone for the remainder of the qualifying programme."

What has given Khoza and the nation hope was Bafana's sparkling 3-0 friendly win at the Super Stadium over highly rated Paraguay in March.

"But stressed Khoza: "The players must not become complacent or arrogant. We have shown we have the ability to beat Nigeria and must build form the win over Paraguay."

Khoza, who is also the SA Football Association vice-president, adds Safa signed the right man to replace former World Cup winner Parreira.

Said Khoza: "Results are what we are looking for and in Santana we feel we have a man to produce the goods. It is going to be an interesting June for all of us."

- SAPA