Bafana will battle to line up friendlies

Bafana's automatic qualification as host for the 2013 Nations Cup could see them struggle to get top friendly international matches this year.

Already the national team will have to rely on local players keeping fit by playing in the Absa Premiership ahead of their 2014 World Cup qualifier on June 1 against Ethiopia.

SA Football Association CEO Robin Petersen said yesterday that the organisation faced a tough battle to get friendly games for Bafana.

"The problem is that there aren't many countries available to play against in some of the Fifa date slots because they have Nations Cup qualifiers around that time.

"We have September and October slots that would usually be qualifiers for us, but because we are hosting they have now become available," he said.

Petersen said Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane had asked Safa to get a practice match before the game against Ethiopia, but it will be a challenge.

"A top 10 African team [believed to be Senegal] has been confirmed for February 29, but one more practice match before the World Cup qualifier will be very difficult. The only official [Fifa date] we have is in February, but we are in discussions with the league as we try to grant the coach his request," said Petersen.

He said that, between the close of the Premier League in May and the World Cup qualifier in June, Mosimane could work with the players even if there are no practice matches.

Bafana played friendly internationals during Fifa dates last year, with other matches being Nations Cup qualifiers.

Safa brought Kenya (February), Burkina Faso (August) and Ivory Coast (November) to South Africa for friendlies, but top teams, which Mosimane has asked for, are likely to have other commitments this year.