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Erasmus relishing Bafana debut
11/03/2008 14:38 - (SA)
Johannesburg - South Africa will take on Zimbabwe in a hastily arranged fixture at the Germiston Stadium on Tuesday as preparation for the upcoming international against Paraguay later in the month and qualifiers for the 2010 Fifa World Cup/MTN Africa Cup of Nations.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has called up a 23-man squad made up entirely of locally-based players, 10 of them as yet uncapped.
The Brazilian will see this as another chance to look at up-and-coming players who are striving to claim a regular place in the Bafana Bafana side, especially as we are likely to see more overseas based internationals being called up for the friendly with Paraguay.
Neighbours Zimbabwe should provide a good test of the young squad, as many of the visitors' team play their football in South Africa and will have a good knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.
South Africa and Zimbabwe have met nine times before and the head-to-head record is perfectly balanced: each side has won four matches and scored nine goals against one another.
Supersport United's teenage striker Kermit Erasmus says he is looking forward to his first cap with Bafana Bafana.
"I enjoyed my first training session with the squad on Monday. The coach did not say much except to welcome and encourage us to work hard for this chance as it will also open opportunities to be called to the national team again."
"The coach has already selected his line up, but if I get the chance to come as a substitute, I will be ready to make the best of it."
Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Senzo Meyiwa (Orlando Pirates).
Defenders: Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Siboniso Gaxa, Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates), Bryce Moon (Ajax Cape Town), Siyabonga Sangweni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Mokete Tsotetsi (Kaizer Chiefs).
Midfielders: Bafo Biyela (AmaZulu), Bennet Chenene (Orlando Pirates), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Thulasizwe Mbuyane (Free State Stars), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Dumisani Ngwenya (AmaZulu), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Papi Zothwane (Lamontville Golden Arrows).
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Rugby
