Sport

Bafana solid against Bulgaria

Brad Morgan

25 May 2010

Bafana Bafana showed their continuing improvement in the run-in to the 2010 Fifa World Cup when they held the upper hand in a 1-1 draw against 39th-ranked Bulgaria in a friendly international at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Monday night.

Importantly for South Africa, the draw extended the team's unbeaten run to nine matches, which is a far cry from the nine successive defeats it suffered under former coach Joel Santana.

After Monday's match, coach Carlos Alberto Parreira appeared happy with his squad's progress. He said their passing had improved, but added that work needed to be done on getting the wing-backs further forward down the flanks.

Parreira also identified the team's crossing from out wide as an area that needed improvement.

Competition

His contentment, he explained, came from the competition between players for a place in the squad. One man he singled out as having made a huge impact since being given a chance to show his worth for the national team was Golden Arrows' Thanduyise Khuboni.

It is not the first time that Parreira has sung the 24-year-old's praises and, if game time during Bafana's camps is anything to go by, he will be included in the final South African squad.

The coach, however, named a number of experienced players who are competing against Khuboni for a midfield place in the World Cup, and said it is a good problem to have to choose between good players.

50th cap

One man who has been staking his claim in strong terms recently was last night's captain, Teko Modise, who played in his 50th match for the national team.

He was excellent against Thailand and once again, against Bulgaria, he controlled the midfield and impressed with the vision of his passes. After the contest, he was named man of the match.

With a crowd of 38 000 providing enthusiastic support on a cold night, Bafana Bafana came out of the gates strongly and took the game to the Bulgarians.

Tested

Bulgarian goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov was tested by Katlego Mphela after 10 minutes when the South African striker blasted a free kick at goal. Mihaylov directed it behind for a corner.

Shortly after that, the Bulgarian goalie had trouble with a free kick taken by an impressive Siphiwe Tshabalala, but recovered.

Midfield general Modise also tested Mihaylov, who was once again up to the challenge.

Goal

The pressure finally told 20 minutes into the game when defender Siyabonga Sangweni netted his first goal for the national team from a free kick to set the stadium alight.

While the goal had a good effect on the crowd, it also served as a wake-up call for Bulgaria, who up until that point had been content to sit back and try to soak up the pressure. It galvanised them into action and it wasn't long before an Ivelin Popov shot gave Bafana net-minder Itumeleng Khune his first work of the evening.

South Africa had a narrow escape after half-an-hour when Valari Bojinov was just off target with a powerfully struck shot.

Bulgarian reply

Shortly after that, however, the Bojinov got himself onto the scoresheet when he controlled a cross from Georgi Peev well and then beat Khune to level the scores.

Bafana Bafana responded immediately and went at the Bulgarians strongly once more. Khuboni was high with a shot, but Reneilwe Letsholonyane was on target from distance with a shot that gave Mihaylov some problems.

After the break, Khuboni let rip with from about 25 metres out, but his effort was directed straight at the goalkeeper.

Lost shape

As the half wore on the home team lost some of its shape and the contest meandered a little.

With full time approaching, South Africa once again upped the pressure as they pushed for victory. Bulgaria, however, maintained their composure at the back and stopped Bafana from claiming victory.

Next up for coach Parreira and his charges is a game against Colombia, ranked 34th in the world, at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Thursday.