Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Parreira on Thursday (04 March) announced a 29-man squad to travel to Brazil for a month-long training camp. The camp is in preparation for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup, and is one of three before the start of the tournament in June. The two other camps will be in Germany in April and in South Africa in May.

The squad is made up mainly of players doing duty in the ABSA Premiership, with just two who are overseas-based – Daylon Claasen as well as Kermit Erasmus.

“I have said before that I want the core of the World Cup squad to be South African-based players as they are playing regularly, and then I will add with some overseas-based players. The two youngsters I have brought for this camp have shown a lot of promise, and I want them to get more experience. And if they do well who knows, they might just be in the final World Cup squad. Remember they were part of the Under 20 team that played in the FIFA Under 20 World Cup tournament in Egypt last year, so they have something to offer,” said Parreira.

Parreira says it was a difficult period trying to put together the schedule for the Brazilian Camp.

“The Brazilian League is in full swing and it proved very difficult to put this whole exercise together. But the highlight of the camp should be a match against local first division club Cruzeiro on the 17th of March. But before that we will play another club Volta Redonda on the 13th. Both are training matches. We have also secured an international friendly match against Paraguay in Paraguay on the 31st of March,” said Parreira.

The Brazilian added that he knows from experience that this trip will bring the best out of Bafana Bafana.

“I have taken Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to Granja Comary in Brazil and on our return the results were magnificent. This exercise will be very good for our boys. The focus will be on playing simple, having shape and getting some identity. If you look at countries like England, Germany and Brazil, they play a certain style of football – they have identity and we don’t. It’s a huge challenge. Also, the standard of fitness in the league is not at World Cup level, and this camp should help rectify that or we don’t stand a chance in the World Cup tournament,” added the coach.

Travel Details: Three Groups

· 07 MARCH – TECHNICAL STAFF (10H20 DEPARTURE)

· 08 MARCH – STAFF & PLAYERS (10H20 DEPARTURE)

· 09 MARCH – STAFF & PLAYERS (10H20 DEPARTURE)

VENUES: GRANJA COMARY – CENTRO DE TREINAMENTO HELENO NUNES (CBF), TERESOPOLIS, RIO DE JANEIRO

07 MARCH – 21 MARCH 2010

TRAFFIC TRAINING CENTRE, SAO PAOLO

22 MARCH – 06 APRIL

TRAINING MATCHES: VS VOLTA REDONDA- 13 MARCH 2010, KICK OFF AT 15H30 (Brazilian time – Brazil is five hours behind South Africa)

VS FLUMINENSE – 14 MARCH 2010, KICK OFF AT 15H30

(Both matches at Granja Comary)

VS CRUZEIRO – 17 MARCH 2010, KICK OFF AT 21H50 AT MINEIRAO STADIUM, BELO HORIZONTE CITY

VS BOTAFOGO – 20 MARCH 2010 AT ENGENHAO STADIUM, RIO DE JANEIRO

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY: VS PARAGUAY– 31 MARCH 2010, KICK OFF AT 19H30, PARAGUAY

Here is the full squad of players for the Brazil Camp:

NO.

PLAYER'S NAME

CLUB

1.

BARON Emille (GK)

Supersport United F.C. (SA)

2.

BOOTH Matthew

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

3.

CALE Franklin

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

4.

CLAASEN Daylon

Ajax Amsterdam F.C. ( Holland)

5.

DAVIDS Lance

Ajax Cape Town F.C. (SA)

6.

ERASMUS Kermit

Excelsior Rotterdam ( Holland)

7.

GAXA Siboniso

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

8.

HENYEKANE Richard

Lamontville Golden Arrows (SA)

9.

JALI Andile

Orlando Pirates F.C. (SA)

10.

JOSEPHS Moeneeb (GK)

Orlando Pirates F.C. (SA)

11.

KHUBONI Thanduyise

Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C. (SA)

12.

KHUMALO Bongani

Supersport United F.C. (SA)

13.

KHUNE Itumeleng (GK)

Kaizer Chiefs F.C. (SA)

14.

KLATE Daine

Supersport United F.C. (SA)

15.

LETSHOLONYANE Reneilwe

Kaizer Chiefs F.C. (SA)

16.

MBUYANE Thulasizwe

Orlando Pirates F.C. (SA)

17.

MDLEDLE Innocent

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

18.

MODISE Teko

Orlando Pirates F.C. (SA)

19.

MOKOENA Lebohang

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

20.

MORIRI Surprise

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

21.

MPHELA Katlego

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

22.

NTHETHE Thabo

Bloemfontein Celtics F.C. (SA)

23.

SANGWENI Siyabonga

Lamontville Golden Arrows F.C. (SA)

24.

SCHALKWYK Gert

Orlando Pirates F.C. (SA)

25.

SEGOLELA Tlou

Bloemfontein Celtics F.C. / Pirates (SA)

26.

SERERO Thulani

Ajax Cape Town F.C. (SA)

27.

THWALA Lucas

Orlando Pirates F.C. (SA)

28.

TSHABALALA Siphiwe

Kaizer Chiefs F.C. (SA)

29.

XULU Siyanda

Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. (SA)

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