Beach Bafana eye World Cup berth
1 July 2009
Bafana Bafana's showing in the Confederations Cup – they came close to upsetting heavyweights Spain and Brazil last week – has given South Africa's "Beach Bafana" hope ahead of this week's Africa qualifiers for the 2009 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup.
The beach soccer qualifying tournament, which kicks off in Durban on Wednesday and wraps up on Sunday, sees nine teams competing for the two places reserved for African teams at the World Cup finals in Dubai in November.
The "Beach Boys" are determined to copy the example set by their field compatriots and surprise a few teams this week, and earn themselves a trip to take on the world's best in Dubai.
"The way the field soccer team performed at the Confederations Cup has motivated us and made us determined to do as well as they did," South African beach soccer team coach Lindani Shezi said on Monday.
Emulating Bafana Bafana
"We have spoken about how good the Bafana Bafana were against Brazil and Spain, and we want to show that we are as good as them by qualifying for the finals in Dubai."
The task awaiting the beach soccer team is anything but easy, however. The format means one loss at any stage before the tournament final will likely mean an end to qualifying hopes; the nine teams are broken into three pools of three, with the top team from each pool, plus the best second-placed finisher (determined by points, then goal difference, then goal average) qualifying for Saturday's crucial semi-finals.
The two semi-final winners will represent Africa at the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2009 Final in Dubai.
Heading the race for one of those all important qualifying spots are the defending champions Senegal. Last year they were magnificent in sweeping all before them and eventually defeating Cameroon in the final. The early indications are that Senegal will take up where they left off in 2008 and will be the team to beat once again.
Cameroon absent
Their task has been made significantly easier because Cameroon will not be attempting to qualify this year after the private promoters (and funders) of beach soccer in Cameroon and the national soccer federation could not come to an agreement regarding the team's participation.
Senegal is pooled with Mozambique and Libya in Group B and it is difficult to see how the two beach soccer minnows would be able to upset the favourites.
Senegal's likely semi-final opponents from Group C are Nigeria, who are still seething after they were knocked out of the tournament last year following a sudden-death penalty shootout against Cameroon.
This year Nigeria are grouped with Egypt and Mauritius, and although the island nation is unlikely to provide anything other than shooting practice, Nigeria will have to be careful that lightning does not strike twice with the tricky Egyptian side capable of beating anyone on their day.
Toughest group
Group A sees the home side South African facing the tough task of beating Côte d'Ivoire, who lost out to Senegal in the semi-finals last year. Morocco is perceived as the weakest side in the group, but in reality the North Africans have a chance of causing an upset and sneaking into the second round from what is probably the most competitive pool.
Entrance for matches is free, but only 2 000 spectators will be allowed into the purpose-built stadium at a time.
2009 marks the fourth year that Durban is hosts the African World Cup qualifier and while the attendance figures of 2 000 at beach soccer are nothing like the numbers expected for the next year's Fifa World Cup, there will be shortage of atmosphere in the compact, purpose-built arena once the qualifying tournament kicks off.
Apart from the local support, Durban has sizeable populations of Nigerians, Ivorians, Mozambicans and Senegalese. When players from those countries take to the field, they will feel very much at home.
Action packed
Beach soccer is packed with action. Matches are divided into three periods of 12 minutes and there is a shot on goal every 90 seconds on average.
Even when the players are taking a break, the action in Durban will continue with dancers, musicians and DJs set to entertain the crowds and ensure there are no dull moments.
And a glance northwards up the coast will reveal the impressive, imposing presence of the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which is nearing completion for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
THE DRAW
Group AA1 South Africa
A2 Côte d'Ivoire
A3 Morocco
B1 Senegal
B2 Mozambique
B3 Lybia
C1 Nigeria
C2 Egypt
C3 Mauritius
SAinfo reporter
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