Bafana play Atteridgeville

JOHANNESBURG – An apparent ground shortage, not unlike the power shedding that is blighting the lives of South Africans, has resulted in Safa taking the unusual initiative to play Bafana Bafana’s international friendly against Paraguay next week at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville.

“We really had no alternative,” explained Safa general manager Sipho Nkumane on Wednesday. “In the first instance, we had to settle for a Gauteng venue so that players from both teams could catch flights back to Europe immediately after the game to honour club commitments.”And the more obvious venues like Ellis Park and Loftus were unavailable to us,” added the Bafana general manager.”Renovations are continuing at Ellis Park for next year’s Confederation Cup and the 2010 World Cup,” said Nkumane, “and replanting of the pitch at Loftus meant we could not play there either.”News24″In the first instance, we had to settle for a Gauteng venue so that players from both teams could catch flights back to Europe immediately after the game to honour club commitments.”And the more obvious venues like Ellis Park and Loftus were unavailable to us,” added the Bafana general manager.”Renovations are continuing at Ellis Park for next year’s Confederation Cup and the 2010 World Cup,” said Nkumane, “and replanting of the pitch at Loftus meant we could not play there either.”News24