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AFCON SQUAD ANALYSIS: HUGO BROOS' YOUTH MIX VS. THEMBA ZWANE'S OMISSION
Hugo Broos named his final 25-man Bafana AFCON squad. Analyst Sudesh Singh praised the youth-experience mix but voiced concerns over Themba Zwane's omission and goalkeeper depth.
Hugo Broos announced his final 25-man squad for Bafana Bafana on Monday for the Africa Cup of Nations, and fans are excited to see if South Africa can win.
The team is in Group B and will play Angola on December 22, then Egypt on December 26, and finish against Zimbabwe on December 29. It's going to be tough.
Football expert Sudesh Singh likes the team, saying Broos did a good job mixing young players with experienced ones.
Singh said this mix could help them at AFCON and get ready for the World Cup.
He's happy that Tylon Smith, a young player from QPR who played well at the Under-20 AFCON, is included. Even if he doesn't play much, he'll learn a lot.
Singh thinks Broos is planning for the future with his choices.
You can see that Hugo is thinking about the World Cup, Singh said.
Singh is worried about some players who didn't make the squad, like 35-year-old Themba Zwane.
Singh said, I think he should be there. He was hurt, but he played for Sundowns in the Champions League.
You need a player like that for his skills, but also to lead and inspire the younger players, he added.
Singh is also concerned about the goalkeepers.
He said, Ronwen is much better than the others.
He thinks the backup goalkeepers might not be ready.
Ricardo Goss plays for a team that's not doing well, so we don't know if he's sharp enough. And Chaine is doing well for Pirates, but they're not in the Champions League anymore, so we don't know if he'd be ready if needed.
Despite these worries, Singh is mostly happy with the team. He thinks the mix of young and experienced players gives Bafana a chance to win and also train players for the future.
As the team gets ready for the AFCON group stage, the focus will be on getting ready, planning tactics, and helping the young players learn from the older ones. Singh believes these things will decide if South Africa does well in the tournament and later on.
Bafana Bafana 25-Man Squad
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine, Ricardo Goss
Defenders: Khuliso Mudau, Thabang Matuludi, Tylon Smith, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Aubrey Modiba, Khulumani Ndamane, Siyabonga Ngezana, Samkelo Kabini, Mbekezeli Mbokazi
Midfielders: Sphephelo Sithole, Teboho Mokoena, Thalente Mbatha, Bathusi Aubaas
Forwards: Oswin Appollis, Mohau Nkota, Tshepang Moremi, Evidence Makgopa, Lyle Foster, Sipho Mbule, Elias Mokwana, Relebohile Mofokeng, Shandre Campbell
WILFRIED NANCY: CELTIC BOSS BLOCKS OUT ALL "NOISE" AND CRITICISM AFTER HEARTS LOSS
After the heat following the Hearts' loss, Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy stated he has "blocked everything out," including social media criticism, to focus solely on the team's performance.
Celtic's head coach, Wilfried Nancy, said he tunes out all the noise when making decisions as a manager.
This comes after the Frenchman faced some heat after a 2-1 loss to Heart of Midlothian in his first game with the Glasgow team.
Before the Europa League match against AS Roma, Nancy said he doesn't pay attention to what others think.
When asked if those opinions bother him, he told a press conference, "That's a good question."
I'll be honest.
Every team I've coached—when I decided to become a coach—well, when I had the chance to become a coach, I'd been an assistant for seven years, working with many coaches.
I always told myself that when I became a coach, I'd block everything out. And that's exactly what I did.
He said he's built a wall between himself and any outside opinions, even online criticism.
I've blocked anything on Twitter that mentions my name, the club, or what people are saying.
People can say what they want. It's part of the job, and that's what we prepare for. I'm not here to comment on everything.
The manager explained that ignoring public opinion helps him focus on what he can control to improve how the team plays.
He used an analogy about how everyone has different tastes, like when people have different experiences with the same food.
We could visit a restaurant together, and you might love the food, while I don't.
Get what I mean? You like it, and I don't.
Nancy made his goals clear: he's focused on his players and the club and wants to do his best to give good performances.
He wrapped up by saying, At the end of the day, it's part of the job. I control what I can to be good with my players, my club, and the people I work with and to make sure we have the best chance of winning by playing well.
His team will play AS Roma in the Europa League tomorrow.
PEACE PRIZE SCRUTINY: FIFA FACES FORMAL COMPLAINT ABOUT UNILATERAL DONALD TRUMP AWARD
FIFA President Gianni Infantino is accused of four breaches of the ethics code by FairSquare, including awarding the first FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump at the World Cup draw.
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After the World Cup draw last week, FIFA is facing a formal complaint about political neutrality. FairSquare, a nonprofit, sent FIFA’s Ethics Committee a detailed letter pointing out four possible violations by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the event, one of which was giving out the FIFA Peace Prize.
Calls for FIFA to Look Into It
FairSquare's complaint follows the World Cup draw. At the event, the awarding of the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize was part of several mentions of President Donald Trump. FIFA said the award recognised Trump’s work in promoting peace and unity around the world.
FairSquare believes that giving the prize, along with other things that happened during the event, might have gone against FIFA’s policy of being politically neutral. They've requested the ethics committee to look into the decision to create and give out the FIFA Peace Prize and whether it followed FIFA’s rules.
Infantino and Trump
Infantino and Trump have met a few times over the years, which isn't unusual, as FIFA presidents often meet with leaders from different countries. During the draw, Infantino made some comments about Trump.
He said he was surprised by negative comments about Trump. He stated that, regardless of not being American, Trump was elected in the United States, and one should respect the results of a democratic election.
FairSquare's complaint argues that these statements show a political stance, breaking FIFA’s neutrality rules.
FIFA's Ethics Code
FIFA's ethics code says that the organisation should stay neutral when it comes to politics. It specifically says FIFA remains neutral in matters of politics and religion, also requiring everyone bound by the code to remain politically neutral when dealing with government groups.
Infantino has met with Trump a few times, including an invitation to the presidential inauguration and visits to the Oval Office.
Acting Alone
The Peace Prize given to Trump has been questioned, as it seems it was decided on and awarded without talking to senior FIFA officials. High-ranking FIFA officials were unaware of the award before its announcement. The award was revealed on the same day Infantino spoke at an event in the United States.
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