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Star expected to play in friendlies Dribbling wizard Steven “Schillo” Pienaar, right, is expected back in Bafana Bafana colours against Norway and Portugal later this month.
Bafana play Norway in the much-anticipated Nelson Mandela Peace Challenge at the renovated Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on March 28.
This game will also be part of the historic South African Peace Conference on March 27 at the Constitution Hill . The game will be attended by some current and former heads of state.
In the second match, Bafana Bafana will be away in Lausanne, Switzerland, where they have a date with the Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal on March 31.
Pienaar withdrew at the 11th hour from the last game against Chile in Polokwane on February 11 after his club, Everton, informed Safa that he was injured.
Subsequent to that, coach Joel Santana called up Free State Stars striker Sthembiso Ngcobo who responded by saying he was not yet ready for international soccer.
Sipho Nkumane, Bafana Bafana manager, said the technical staff were finalising the team to play both Norway and Portugal.
Santana and his technical staff will meet at Safa House today to select a bigger pool of players to feature in the two games.
“We are announcing the team to play against Norway and Portugal next week, it will be one team but will definitely have more players than usual,” said Nkumane.
“The focus will be on the overseas players. For the selection of local players the process will be at the weekend because there will be Absa Premiership fixtures.
“Schillo should also be in the team because he forms part of the integral team that coach Santana is building for the Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup.
“We have not heard anything suggesting otherwise regarding Pienaar’s availability and we hope to have everybody selected by the coaches available for two games.”
Pienaar and his business manager Rob Moore could not be reached for comment.
The new Bafana Bafana “away” jersey will be unveiled in Johannesburg next week by their sponsor, Adidas, ahead of the Switzerland trip.
Portugal, who are under the watchful eye of former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Queiroz, named their squad yesterday. (See box).
South Africa moved down two notches on the Fifa world rankings released yesterday, from 70th to 72nd. They also dropped from 15th to 16th on the African continent.
PORTUGAL SQUADGoalkeepers – Rui Patricio (Sporting), Daniel Fernandes (Bochum), Hilario (Chelsea), Beto (Leixoes), Ricardo (Betis), Eduardo (Braga);
Defenders – Goncalo Brandao (Siena), Bosingwa and Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Jose Goncalves (Nuremberg), Bruno Alves, Rolando (FC Porto), Nelson (Betis), Pepe (Real Madrid), Miguel (Valencia), Andre Marques (Setubal);
Midfielders – Simao Sabrosa and Maniche (At. Madrid), Deco and Quaresma (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Danny (Zenit), Fernando Meira (Galatasaray), Tiago (Juventus), Eliseu and Duda (Malaga), Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd), Pedro Mendes (Rangers), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Manuel Fernandes (Valencia);
Strikers – Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Helder Postiga (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Edinho (AEK), Silvestre Varela (E. Amadora) and Orlando Sa (Braga).
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