Bafana To Host Spain In Friendly

Bafana Bafana will play the reigning world and European champions, Spain, in an international friendly match at Soccer City on 19 November 2013, with the game getting underway at 21:00.

The match will mark a welcome return for the winners of the 2010 FIFA World Cup which was hosted by South Africa, where they won through an Andres Iniesta goal.

SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan, said the match against the reigning World champions would kick-start a number of high-profile games featuring top soccer countries against Bafana Bafana.

"It is the new SAFA executive's mission to make Bafana Bafana world-beaters again and we have lined up top-class sides to play our senior national team. We could not have asked for a better start of this campaign than with the game against the reigning FIFA World Cup champions," said Dr Jordaan.

"It is a dream come true for many soccer fans to once again see the likes of Iniesta and Xavi in action at the venue where they made history by lifting their first World Cup trophy. This is going to be a block-buster of a game," added Dr Jordaan.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said it was excited to return to the city and venue that gave them fame.

"We wish to demonstrate our gratitude for the wonderful hospitality of the South African sports authorities and the support of the country's football fans during the 2010 South Africa World Cup, where Spain was proclaimed champion for the first time in history," said Spanish Football Association President, Mr Angel Maria Villar Llona.

"At the end of the match, played on 11th July 2010 at the same stadium, the top officials of the RFEF expressed their thanks for the support received and promised to return to South Africa to play a friendly match, in the same way we did in Vienna after winning the Euro 2008."

Added SAFA CEO, Dennis Mumble: "We are excited by this honour to play Spain and we ask all football lovers to rush to buy their tickets for this rare occasion as soon as ticket sales open. More information will be released in the next few days."

Bafana-versus-Spain a test for Igesund, says Jorda...

Bafana Bafana will face world and European champions Spain in an international friendly at the FNB Stadium on November 19.

"We have just clinched the deal," an elated South African Football Association (Safa) president Danny Jordaan told City Press.

"The match will provide Gordon Igesund with a huge opportunity to measure the progress he has made with the team," Jordaan continued.

"Spain is not just the best team in the world but boasts the best individual players from Barcelona and Real Madrid."

Jordaan said the match was a fulfilment of a promise made to him by Royal Spanish Football Federation president Ángel María Villar Llona after his team won the World Cup at the FNB Stadium in 2010.

"He promised that if I became (Safa) president, he would ensure that the team returns to the venue where they won their first World Cup. This is a very historic match for them as well," said Jordaan.

He said more details about the match would be released soon.

Spain, who are the reigning World and European champions after winning the World Cup in 2010 and Euro 2012, are currently ranked Number One in the world.

They also won the Euro 2008. This makes them the only national team with three consecutive wins of continental championships and the World Cup.

The European super power holds a record for the most consecutive competitive matches wins after being unbeaten in 29 outings from the 2010 World Cup until they lost 3-0 to hosts Brazil at the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup.

Bafana Bafana are ranked a lowly 61 but made a welcome climb of seven places from the number 68 position they had occupied in September.

They will have to rely on such friendlies as they have bombed out of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

- S'Busiso Mseleku

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