Cape Argus E-dition

Bafana coach set to get his November camp

HERMAN GIBBS

AT last, there is a hint of cooperation between the South African Football Association (Safa) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as a potential clash of events has been avoided during the November Fifa international break.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced that the national squad will assemble for squad training from November 14-20. During that time, Bafana Bafana will play two friendly matches, and Broos has identified Burkina Faso and Uzbekistan as likely opponents.

The PSL have announced that the one-day spectacle, the Carling Black Label Cup tournament, will take place on November 12 at the FNB Stadium. Previously the tournament was known as the Telkom Charity and the Iwisa Charity spectacular.

The names of the four teams for the cup tournament will be announced on Sunday, but three teams are certain to be voted in by fans. They are Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. The fourth side is likely to be Swallows, who are presently well ahead of AmaZulu in the polls.

The November camps and two friendlies will help Bafana Bafana prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers double-header against Liberia next March.

The first clash on March 20 will be hosted in South Africa and the return clash on March 28 will be played in Morocco. Liberia do not have a home venue that is Fifaapproved and Morocco has stepped in to host Liberia's matches.

“The idea is that we will be together for seven days from November 14 to 20 and will play two friendly games,” said Broos.

“It can be that we will play against Burkina Faso, and we play in Dubai against Uzbekistan. This has not been finalised yet. The negotiations are still ongoing, but I hope we will have those two games.”

While Broos will be pleased that there is nothing in the way of his November camp he is still holding out for a meeting with the PSL coaches. It is something he wanted when he first arrived here just over a year ago but to his great frustration it has not materialised.

Broos recently discovered that his letter to PSL coaches was not sent out and it has left him fuming.

“You know the story about the meeting with PSL coaches. Already it has been one year I have been trying to see them and every time it is the league who said, 'No',” said Broos.

“Everybody knows that story here and it is not my fault that I can’t see the coaches. I will try again now for the last time in November and if I can’t succeed with this meeting with the coaches then it is finished.

“I will not even organise one after that. It is finished because I am not a fool. Last year in August was the first time I wanted to see the coaches and I was one month into the job here."

There is light at the end of the tunnel because the newly appointed Safa technical director Walter Steenbok agrees with Broos. He made it one of his short-term goals to improve the poor relationship between Broos and the PSL.

SPORT

en-za

2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-30T07:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/281900187088868

African News Agency