South Africa

[SCinTXforFCD]

Does anyone know why South Africa is in Concacaf Gold Cup?

[guategol]

They were invited by concacaf.

[Popol Vuh]

they were invited because they're host to the 2010 WC Finals

[BlackLotus]

Does anyone know why South Africa is in Concacaf Gold Cup?
it kind of reminds me when brazil was invited to the gold cup 1 or 2 years ago and jacked everything up for the CONCACAF teams; or when France got to play in the Federation Cup (mainly because the tourney was in France), and ended up winning the whole thing. South Africa won't be as good as either of those teams that showed up, but still competitive enough.

[Latin Pride]

It was a waiste of a slot, the tournament would have been alot more interesting if another S.A team or an European team or even a top Asian team was invited

[Popol Vuh]

Korea has been invited before , i think twice...., but i wanted to see Australia or atleast New Zealand in this gold cup.........

[MoRado]

Korea has been invited before , i think twice...., but i wanted to see Australia or atleast New Zealand in this gold cup.........
Australia would have been an excellent balance

[Chivo]

Australia would have been an excellent balance

Yeah, Australia would've been a good team in the Gold Cup.

[ursula]

Possibly South Africa was invited because they will return the favor with some pre-2010 tournament.

[Hachiko]

Korea has been invited before , i think twice...., but i wanted to see Australia or atleast New Zealand in this gold cup.........

If Australia was in this Gold Cup, this would be good preparation for them against the CONMEBOL 5th-placed side (assuming they dispose of the Solomons).

[G D L]

it kind of reminds me when brazil was invited to the gold cup 1 or 2 years ago and jacked everything up for the CONCACAF teams; or when France got to play in the Federation Cup (mainly because the tourney was in France), and ended up winning the whole thing. South Africa won't be as good as either of those teams that showed up, but still competitive enough.

pardon my ignorance but what exactly is the federation cup?

[Gaetjens38]

Anyone familiar with South Africa's players know if Bafana Bafana will bring its top team to Gold Cup? Or will it be a bunch of younger players?

There are some big name clubs listed in the preliminary roster, but I wondered if this was the top side used for World Cup qualifiers and such.

GK: Rowan Fernandez (Kaizer Chiefs), Calvin Marlin (Supersport United), Hans Vonk (Ajax Amsterdam/NED);
DF: Matthew Booth (Krylia Sovetos Samara/RUS), Bradley Carnell (Karlsrucher FC/GER), Pierre Issa (Ionikos/GRE), Robyn Johannes (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Katza (Supersport United), Lucky Lekgwathi (Orlando Pirates FC), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos/GRE), Thabiso Rammile (Mamelodi Sundowns);
MD: Tyrene Arendse (Orlando Pirates FC), Delran Buckley (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Quinton Fortune (Manchester United/ENG), Gift Leremi (Orlando Pirates FC), Mbulelo Mabizela (Valerenga IF/NOR), Benson Mhlongo (Wits University), Reagan Noble (Wits University), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam/NED), Dillon Sheppard (Panionios/GRE), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Siyabonga Siphika (Manning Rangers), Elrio Van Heerden (FC Copenhagen/DEN), Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates FC), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen/DEN);
AT: Shaun Bartlett (Charlton Athletic/ENG), Lerato Chabangu (Mamelodi Sundowns), Benedict McCarthy (FC Porto/POR), Thando Mngomeni (Helsingborg/SWE), Katlego Mphela (RC Strasbourg/FRA), Sandile Ndlovu (Dynamos), Siyabango Nomvete (Empoli/ITA).

[losgatosfan]

Doesn't look like South Africa is going to be bringing a very strong team, if they can make it at all!

"Bafana Looking for an Exit" (http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Soccer/0,,2-9-840_1726913,00.html)

[scaryice]

South Africa is gonna get destroyed if they bring a reserve team. Mexico and Colombia are also bringing b-teams, so it looks like the USA should run away with it. The Central American and Caribbean teams should be at near full strength, at least.

[scaryice]

Guest Teams

1991-none
1993-none
1996-Brazil
1998-Brazil
2000-Colombia, South Korea
2002-Ecuador, South Korea
2003-Brazil, Colombia
2005-Colombia, South Africa

[losgatosfan]

South Africa is gonna get destroyed if they bring a reserve team. Mexico and Colombia are also bringing b-teams, so it looks like the USA should run away with it. The Central American and Caribbean teams should be at near full strength, at least.

Agree. Not clear if Ruiz is going to be with Guatemala...according to FC Dallas team reports, they're talking about expecting Ruiz to play for Dallas in July. He's still injured, so maybe that will keep him from going to the Gold Cup. Can't find anything on the web about the Guatemala roster that was submitted. It should be due today, final rosters are due 15 days before the first game.

[G D L]

"Bafana Looking for an Exit" (http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Soccer/0,,2-9-840_1726913,00.html)clubs like Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs are offering us their reserves because of their Vodacom Challenge commitment - an unofficial, privately-arranged eventMamelodi Sundowns, competing against world-class opposition in the Peace Cup in South Korea next monthAjax Cape Town are committed to African Champions League fixtures and are understandably reluctant to release any of their playersSouth Africa's strong complement of overseas-based players have almost unanimously declared their unavailability for the Gold Cup because of club training commitment for the new season in Europe.

having read the article i can understand Ajax Cape Town's reluctance to release its players b/c of the African Champions League, i dont wish upon anyone what chivas went through last night and what theyll go through on thursday next.

BUT, all the other South African clubs are saying they wont loan their players b/c of commitments to other tournaments! and to top it off theyre all non-FIFA recognized events!! other players are saying theyd rather stay in preseason with their respective clubs...what bvllsh!t!! gold cup, no matter how crappy a tournament it may be, is a championship for one of the 6 confederations, ie it is FIFA sanctioned tournament and as such clubs HAVE to make their players available and players HAVE to come IF they are called up... what bvllsh!t...

i DO like how theyre scared of us though....:cool: We are due to open our Gold Cup programme against Mexico, the sixth-best rated team in the world on July 8 (and all we get are reserves)

[losgatosfan]

Yeah, I had the same reaction.....not to mention that when South Africa was invited as a guest team, the KNEW when the tournament was. It's not like it's a last minute surprise on this...

But Mexico doesn't appear to be bringing a very strong (experienced) team....maybe the South Africa reserves can give you a run for your money :D

[Elninho]

Guest Teams

1991-none
1993-none
1996-Brazil
1998-Brazil
2000-Colombia, South Korea
2002-Ecuador, South Korea
2003-Brazil, Colombia
2005-Colombia, South Africa

In 2000, we had Peru as a guest team, not South Korea.

[Captain Canuck]

South Korea and Peru and Colombia were there in 2000. Canada drew SK in the first round before beating Colombia in the final (and they beat Peru in the semi's IIRC).