07-08-2005, 03:19 PM
The looming crisis facing Bafana Bafana of going into next month's critical World Cup qualifying game against Burkina Faso in September without a suitable dress-rehearsal was eliminated on Friday, when the South African Football Association (Safa) CEO, Raymond Hack, announced that a match against Iceland had been arranged for August 17.
This will give Bafana coach Stuart Baxter the opportunity to piece together South Africa's strongest line-up for the World Cup qualifier. He will be able to draw on the top players in Europe, those who played well in the Concacaf Gold Cup in the US, and others who will be doing duty in next weekend's Cosafa Cup matches in Mmabatho.
Bafana were due to play against Colombia in Europe on a date set by Fifa, but the South Americans dithered in confirming the fixture and the match was stillborn.
"Now it's a great relief that we have got a game," said Baxter, who worked tirelessly to secure the fixture against Iceland.
This will give Bafana coach Stuart Baxter the opportunity to piece together South Africa's strongest line-up for the World Cup qualifier. He will be able to draw on the top players in Europe, those who played well in the Concacaf Gold Cup in the US, and others who will be doing duty in next weekend's Cosafa Cup matches in Mmabatho.
Bafana were due to play against Colombia in Europe on a date set by Fifa, but the South Americans dithered in confirming the fixture and the match was stillborn.
"Now it's a great relief that we have got a game," said Baxter, who worked tirelessly to secure the fixture against Iceland.