The newly-appointed head coach of the South African Senior Men’s National Team (Bafana Bafana) Pitso Mosimane is ready for the next World Cup with his Vision 2014. South Africa hosted 2010 World Cup, in no less than a month Coach Carlos Perreira, who was with Bafana Bafana throughout the World Cup, took a final bow. New Bafana Bafana head Coach Pitso Mosimane has outlined the way forward for the National Team, with a major overhaul of Local Soccer in his sights as he works towards qualifying for the 2012 African Cup of Nations and 2014 World Cup.

Mosimane outlined the following steps as a basis for achieving Vision 2014:

Scouting and monitoring of local and international players

Interaction with coaches from the Premier Soccer League to discuss CAF/FIFA dates and player availability for the National Team

Interaction with the coaches both local and international about the plan and the vision

Recommend that PSL teams utilise a maximum of 3 foreign players

Agree on at least two Under-23 players to be in the starting line up of all the matches in South Africa

Ensure common vision and understanding with the Junior national teams as they are the direct feeder to the Senior National Team

Recommend that strictly Under-23 players be utilized for COSAFA games to gain international experience

To send players that are earmarked for Bafana Bafana to participate in the African Nations Championships (CHAN)

Development of the National, Provincial and Regional Under 20 Leagues

Revival of a Reserve League

Mosimane applauded the PSL for their commitment and support in accommodating Bafana Bafana’s program in the League’s calendar. Mosimane said that his continuous engagement with the League is the approach he will apply to other stakeholders in the football fraternity.

“The road to 2014 will not be an easy one. We are mindful of the challenges ahead, especially after having staged a very successful FIFA World Cup in our country. Our choice of opponents in this preparatory stage is to ensure that our players continue with the momentum of the World Cup, we are also sending a message to our team that there is no room for complacency when we face any of our opponents in the qualifiers. We must prepare adequately for Niger and Sierra Leone, just as we will prepare for the African Champions Egypt in our group,” explained Sedibe.

South Africa hosts Ghana at Soccer City on Wednesday the 11th of August 2010. Kickoff is at 20h35 and tickets for the match go on sale on Friday 23 July at Computicket and Shoprite Checkers stores. Tickets cost R50.00 all round.

Ian Jindela