A goal 20 minutes from time, netted by Katlego Mphela, saved Bafana Bafana blushes and earned the World Cup hosts a 1-1 draw against Namibia in a friendly international played at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday night.

Bafana, who went back to their showboating tactics in the

first half, thanks to their captain Teko Modise and Lebohang

"Cheeseboy" Mokoena, should have scored an avalanche of goals. However,

the showboating, dribbling and passing sideways played right into

Namibia's hands.

It was only in the second half, after a few choice words from

head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, that Bafana started showing

their hunger and drive against the Brave Warriors, who lived up to

their nickname.

The match against their 109th world ranked neighbours produced more questions than answers for Parreira. Bafana started to toy

with Namibia from the start, but showboating does not win games.

Bafana were not helped by a referee from Malawi called Dennis

Nguluwe, who looked overawed by the occasion.

Parreira, who will name the squad that will travel to Brazil

this weekend on Thursday, must be a worried man. At least the face-saving

draw means he goes to Brazil unbeaten in four official matches.

However, his only win was a 3-0 drubbing of Zimbabwe at the same

venue in January.

Bafana were all over Namibia in the opening 40 minutes or so, but

the longer the game went without Bafana scoring, the more Namibia was allowed to gain confidence.

Modise and Mokoena persisted in needless dribbling in the

opening 45 minutes. They dribbled themselves in circles and got

nowhere.

Mokoena was replaced at halftime by Tlou Segolela, who

added more urgency in the midfield.

Namibia allowed their hosts to keep possession, soaked up the

pressure and caught Bafana on the counter-attack.

None of Bafana's World Cup Group A opponents, Mexico, Uruguay or

France will lose any sleep about facing Bafana in June after

this showing.

The only goal of the half came three minutes from the interval

when Razundara Tjukuzu exposed Bafana left-back Bradley Carnell and

his pass found Rudolf Bester, who easily slotted past keeper

Itumeleng Khune to put Namibia 1-0 ahead.

A minute later Namibia keeper Attiel Mbaha pushed away a Modise

shot. Then the Namibian keeper pulled off a decent save from

Katlego Mphela in the 22nd minute.

Modise tamely tapped the ball at the relieved Mbaha when the

Bafana skipper should have done better from close range in the 29th

minute.

Namibian defender Richard Gariseb did well to get a foot in

and divert Mphela's shot for a corner in the 38th minute.

Bafana were far too complacent and were rocked when Bester

broke the deadlock on 42 minutes.

Bafana piled forward in the second half and created chances but

failed to penetrate. Modise had the fans howling for his blood and

wanting him substituted when he missed the target again in the 63rd

minute. However, Parreira stuck by his out-of-form midfielder.

Bafana substitute Daine Klate was fractionally wide after some

good build up by Bafana in the 65th minute.

The pressure told in the end when another substitute, Bryce

Moon, laid on an inch-perfect cross from Mphela, who thudded in the

equaliser in the 70th minute, to the delight of the enthusiastic 35 000-strong crowd.

A shot from another substitute, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, screamed

over the crossbar in the 88th minute.

Bafana had their opponents on the rack, but once again failed to

deliver the killer punch. At the end of the night they had to settle

for a 1-1 draw against a side they should have

taken to the cleaners.