The South African Football Association (SAFA) is forced to consider opposition from outside Africa for the next international week next month in the wake of the xenophobic attacks that affected the Bafana Bafana camp last week.
This was revealed by SAFA Acting CEO Russell Paul after Madagascar and Zambia pulled out of the international friendlies against Bafana Bafana due to the violence against foreign nationals in South Africa.
The next international week runs from the seventh until the 15th of next month and Paul says they are seriously considering opposition from outside the continent.
The South American and some of the Asia countries will be available next month for some international friendly matches and Paul says the technical team will have the final say on which angle to take.
But it’s not going to be easy for the newly appointed Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki as he will need to face teams which are similar to Ghana and Sudan, the two nations they will be facing in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in November. He remains hopeful that sanity will prevail.
Ntseki says they have also started profiling Ghana and Sudan ahead of the AFCON qualifiers. Bafana are scheduled to play Ghana away on the 11th of November and seven days later play Sudan at home.
Whilst organisations like SAFA and Cricket South Africa (CSA) came out to address these xenophobic attacks last week, government has also been asked to play its role.
Teams like Mamelodi Sundowns, Bidvest Wits and TS Galaxy are still involved in the CAF inter-club competitions. Paul says the authorities have to play their part. – Report by Velile Mnyandu
