Bafana impress against Australia
31 March 2004
SA's men's and women's soccer teams restored a good measure of pride in the country's biggest sport on Tuesday.
Bafana Bafana ("The Boys") impressed in losing 1-0 to a strong Australian side in a friendly international played in London, while a depleted Banyana Banyana ("The Girls") narrowly lost out to Nigeria in the race to represent Africa at the Athens Olympics.
Australia held out against a spirited South African squad in a fast-paced game at Loftus Road stadium. Bafana, fielding a side made up of overseas-based players bar two, were a completely different team from the one that bowed out after the first round of the African Nations Cup in Tunisia recently.
South Africa dominated the early stages of the first hald, but squandered numerous scoring chances. Only two minutes into the game, Sibusiso Zuma shot wide after outplaying two Australians on the right flank.
Siyabonga Nomvete miskicked in the 11th minute in front of
Australian 'keeper Mark Schwarzer, while Bennet Mnguni later shot wide after being set up by Bradley Carnell.
Australia scored in the 18th minute through midfielder Marco Bresciano, who powered in a volley after being cleverly set up by Mark Viduka.
Australia nearly went 2-0 up two minutes later when Carnell was forced to produce a desperate sliding block to thwart a close-range attempt at goal by Scott Chipperfield.
Shaun Bartlett could have equalised for Bafana when he made a brilliant run down the left wing late in the half, but hesitated when Schwarzer challenged him, forcing the striker to shoot off target. The Socceroos keeper also denied Nomvete in the 61st minute, courageously saving a well taken shot.
This was the 18th time the two countries have played against each other. South Africa have beaten the Socceroos 11 times, against Australia's six victories and one draw.
April "Styles" Phumo, Bafana's caretaker coach, was in charge of the squad
for the last time before new appointee Stuart Baxter takes over.
Banyana take Nigeria to the wire
SA's senior women's team, Banyana Banyana, lost 1-0 to Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday in the second leg of their Olympic qualifier, giving the Nigerians a 3-2 aggregate win after playing to a 2-all draw in Pretoria three weeks ago.
The loss brings to an end Banyana's dream of representing African women's soccer at the Olympic Games in Athens, with the honour falling to the Super Falcons, who will be representing Africa for the third time in a row.
Banyana pushed the Super Falcons close, however, despite going into the match with a side weakened by a serious bout of food poisoning - and further weakened in the 63rd minute when Martha Malaku was sent off for tripping a goal-bound Stella Mbachu.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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