Big weekend for Amakhosi players
Big weekend for Amakhosi players

Posted in News on Mar 25, 2011.

Kaizer Chiefs will have seven on international duty across the continent this weekend as nations resume their qualification matches for the 2012 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, as well as qualification for the 2012 London Olympic games.



Tinashe Nengomasha and Thomas Sweswe will be hoping to lift Zimbabwe with a win against an injury plagued Mali side in Bamako on Sunday in Group A, while Chiefs defender Valery Nahayo will be involved in a local derby with Burundi as they travel to face neighbours Rwanda in a Group H clash.



Chiefs Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, midfielders Siphiwe Tshabalala and Reneilwe Letsholonyane will be in action for Bafana Bafana against defending African Champions Egypt in a Group G clash at Coca Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.



Khune will be hoping to achieve what two previous Chiefs keepers have not managed to do for Bafana against Egypt and that is keep a clean sheet.

Brian Baloyi was in goal for Bafana against the Pharohas when they lost 2 – 0 during the final of the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations.



Rowen Fernandez was beaten by Emad Motaeb in November 2006 during a friendly game in London when the teams last squared off, Egypt won the game 1-0.



Amakhosi winger Siphiwe Tshabalala will be earning his 58th cap for South Africa in the game and should he play it will be his 50th appearance for the national team as a Chiefs player.



Speaking ahead of the clash Tshabalala said “it is wonderful to be on the verge of achieving another milestone as a Chiefs player for my country. I did not realise that I had played so many times for the national team while being at Chiefs, this game is a big game for us and I am really excited about it”.



Reneilwe Letsholonyane believes that Bafana Bafana have no reason to be afraid going into the game, “we respect the achievements of the Egyptian national team, beyond that when it comes to the game we have no fear.

I enjoy representing my country and every time I do so I give my all, the game against the Egyptians is important to us and we going to do whatever it takes to win the game.”

Mandla Masango is aware of the focus on the South Africa U-23’s game against their Libyan u23 counterparts in an Olympic Qualifying game for the 2012 London games which will be played at the Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton.



He believes that the political situation in the North African nation will not have a bearing on the outcome of the game, “as a human being you have to feel for the Libyan players as they could well be concerned about their families back home.



They are a team who are going through so much off the field once we on the pitch the desire to win will be the same in both camps, the road to London starts now and we have to begin with a win.”

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