LAST week we witnessed the final draw for Afcon 2013. Many pundits have hailed this a dream draw for Bafana and some are even going as far as saying that now Bafana Bafana have all the possibility of winning the tournament.
The opening game on January 19 at the majestic home of South African football, the Calabash, against Cape Verde will definitely get many tongues wagging and will raise the expectation that Bafana Bafana must win this game.
Although it will be the first time that Cape Verde will be competing in the tournament, I want to caution against this notion that thiswill be an easy game as it isthe very Cape Verde team that knocked out the powerful Cameroon side from the tournament. Most of their players ply their trade in Europe and they are definitely a team to be reckoned with.
We should also be careful of not underestimating our neighbours Angola and the 1976 champions, Morocco.
It makes for exciting games where we will surely be tested. However, if we prepare well, stick to executing our game plan, play to our strength and with the enthusiastic support of the nation, we will succeed.
Another interesting group to watch and that will provide riveting football will definitely be Group C, where title-holders Zambia will compete against the ever-competitive Nigeria with Burkina Faso and Ethiopia also in the mix.
Group D will see the Ivory Coast coming up against Tunisia and Algeria from the north and their neighbours Togo. The Black Stars of Ghana that we all fell in love with during the 2010 World Cup will have to show their mettle against Mali, Niger and the DRC in Group B.
This makes for an enthralling tournament that will capture the imagination of all supporters of the beautiful game. Let's get our vuvuzelas ready to welcome our African brothers and sisters to our beautiful shores and shower them with our hospitality.
One of the things that always makes for gripping sporting events is David vs Goliath battles. The Currie Cup final played in Durban on Saturday was predicted to be such an event with the Natal Sharks being rated as the overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy and Western Province the underdogs.
What a pulsating final it was, with Province - who had been hard hit by injuries to some of their more prolific players such as Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger and their captain, Jean de Villiers - coming out on top and lifting the oldestchampionship in South Africa.Hats of to the boys from the south for a victory that will go down in the history books as one of the biggest upsets.
To the boys from the Kingdom, better luck next time.
Sunday is the big day and the culmination of the process to unveil, reward and acknowledge the sporting achievements of our sports heroes and heroines.
Everyone wants to know who will be acknowledged as the Sport Star of the Year and walk away with a luxury vehicle and a whopping R1-million.
I hope you have all voted for your sport star of the year as we will also be announcing who has won the car that is on offer.
(Mbalula is Minister of Sports and Recreation)
Afcon draw no walk in park for Bafana
LAST week we witnessed the final draw for Afcon 2013. Many pundits have hailed this a dream draw for Bafana and some are even going as far as saying that now Bafana Bafana have all the possibility of winning the tournament.
The opening game on January 19 at the majestic home of South African football, the Calabash, against Cape Verde will definitely get many tongues wagging and will raise the expectation that Bafana Bafana must win this game.
Although it will be the first time that Cape Verde will be competing in the tournament, I want to caution against this notion that thiswill be an easy game as it isthe very Cape Verde team that knocked out the powerful Cameroon side from the tournament. Most of their players ply their trade in Europe and they are definitely a team to be reckoned with.
We should also be careful of not underestimating our neighbours Angola and the 1976 champions, Morocco.
It makes for exciting games where we will surely be tested. However, if we prepare well, stick to executing our game plan, play to our strength and with the enthusiastic support of the nation, we will succeed.
Another interesting group to watch and that will provide riveting football will definitely be Group C, where title-holders Zambia will compete against the ever-competitive Nigeria with Burkina Faso and Ethiopia also in the mix.
Group D will see the Ivory Coast coming up against Tunisia and Algeria from the north and their neighbours Togo. The Black Stars of Ghana that we all fell in love with during the 2010 World Cup will have to show their mettle against Mali, Niger and the DRC in Group B.
This makes for an enthralling tournament that will capture the imagination of all supporters of the beautiful game. Let's get our vuvuzelas ready to welcome our African brothers and sisters to our beautiful shores and shower them with our hospitality.
One of the things that always makes for gripping sporting events is David vs Goliath battles. The Currie Cup final played in Durban on Saturday was predicted to be such an event with the Natal Sharks being rated as the overwhelming favourites to lift the trophy and Western Province the underdogs.
What a pulsating final it was, with Province - who had been hard hit by injuries to some of their more prolific players such as Siya Kolisi, Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger and their captain, Jean de Villiers - coming out on top and lifting the oldestchampionship in South Africa.Hats of to the boys from the south for a victory that will go down in the history books as one of the biggest upsets.
To the boys from the Kingdom, better luck next time.
Sunday is the big day and the culmination of the process to unveil, reward and acknowledge the sporting achievements of our sports heroes and heroines.
Everyone wants to know who will be acknowledged as the Sport Star of the Year and walk away with a luxury vehicle and a whopping R1-million.
I hope you have all voted for your sport star of the year as we will also be announcing who has won the car that is on offer.
(Mbalula is Minister of Sports and Recreation)
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