RSS
ATOM
advertisement
South Africa Duo Preparing For UEFA Champions League With Maccabi Haifa
Bafana Bafana players Thembinkosi Fanteni and Tsepo Masilela will leave South Africa this evening to join their Maccabi Haifa team-mates in Austria in preparation for the UEFA Champions League.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
Jul 3, 2009 2:40:38 PM
Maccabi Haifa has been in Austria since June 15 but Fanteni and
Masilela will only join their team-mates this weekend after playing for
Bafana Bafana in the recent FIFA Confederations Cup.
The Israel side has two more weeks left before a crucial UEFA Champions League preliminary stages match against Northern Irish side Glentoran.
The first leg will be played in Israel on July 15 followed by the second leg in Belfast on July 22. The league campaign will only start in August.
“We only had one week of rest after playing in the Confederations Cup and now it’s back to work again,” said Fanteni to Kickoff.com.
“The Champions League is important and it’s important for us to make it into the group stages. But I’m sure Tsepo and I won’t struggle with fitness because it’s not like we were not training while other team-mates were in Austria.”
Last season Fanteni started the season well but lost his form between December and April, when he scored only one goal in 14 matches. But the player bounced back with six goals in his last nine matches, however, his goals were not enough to help his team win the Israel State Cup, in which Maccabi lost 2-1 to Beitar Jerusalem in the final.
Overall, Fanteni scored 11 goals in 30 matches for the Haifa-based side last season. “Last season wasn’t so bad, but I went through a spell where I didn’t get enough chances to score and then things started to work in my favour towards the end,” the player said.
“It’s not like I was getting chances and missed them – I wasn’t getting chances at all and that was frustrating. But I’m glad that I have put that behind me.
“The Confederations Cup was a great experience for me but I didn’t get into top form. But if Bafana can get these types [Spain and Brazil] of opponents, then surely we can all improve.”
After Fanteni’s disappointing display in the Confederations Cup, there was talks that Ajax Cape Town might swap their troubled striker Mabhuti Khenyeza, with Fanteni returning in Cape Town. But Fanteni dismissed the rumours as untrue.
“There is nothing like that. As I’m talking to you I’m getting ready to go to the airport and take the next flight to Austria," he said.
“This is an important season for me because it’s the season before the World Cup. I need to prepare myself properly so that I can have a good season.”
The Israel side has two more weeks left before a crucial UEFA Champions League preliminary stages match against Northern Irish side Glentoran.
The first leg will be played in Israel on July 15 followed by the second leg in Belfast on July 22. The league campaign will only start in August.
“We only had one week of rest after playing in the Confederations Cup and now it’s back to work again,” said Fanteni to Kickoff.com.
“The Champions League is important and it’s important for us to make it into the group stages. But I’m sure Tsepo and I won’t struggle with fitness because it’s not like we were not training while other team-mates were in Austria.”
Last season Fanteni started the season well but lost his form between December and April, when he scored only one goal in 14 matches. But the player bounced back with six goals in his last nine matches, however, his goals were not enough to help his team win the Israel State Cup, in which Maccabi lost 2-1 to Beitar Jerusalem in the final.
Overall, Fanteni scored 11 goals in 30 matches for the Haifa-based side last season. “Last season wasn’t so bad, but I went through a spell where I didn’t get enough chances to score and then things started to work in my favour towards the end,” the player said.
“It’s not like I was getting chances and missed them – I wasn’t getting chances at all and that was frustrating. But I’m glad that I have put that behind me.
“The Confederations Cup was a great experience for me but I didn’t get into top form. But if Bafana can get these types [Spain and Brazil] of opponents, then surely we can all improve.”
After Fanteni’s disappointing display in the Confederations Cup, there was talks that Ajax Cape Town might swap their troubled striker Mabhuti Khenyeza, with Fanteni returning in Cape Town. But Fanteni dismissed the rumours as untrue.
“There is nothing like that. As I’m talking to you I’m getting ready to go to the airport and take the next flight to Austria," he said.
“This is an important season for me because it’s the season before the World Cup. I need to prepare myself properly so that I can have a good season.”
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
2 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Suarez apology may save Reds' image, but not his own
The Anfield outfit issued a statement from the Uruguayan on Sunday stating his regret for snubbing Patrice Evra's handshake, Goal.com takes a look at the ramifications
-
The night Barcelona threw away La Liga title
There are still 16 rounds of the Primera Division to play, but the 3-2 loss in Pamplona on Saturday means that the leaders can extend their advantage to 10 points on Sunday night
-
Two good - Rooney settles fierce Liverpool clash
The England striker has combined with Danny Welbeck to great effect this season and surpassed the 20-goal mark with another match-winning display in the 2-1 win at Old Trafford
-
The factors that will decide the 2012 Afcon final
As the final two left standing in the Cup of Nations get ready to face each other in Libreville on Sunday night, Goal.com looks at the battles that might help determine the victor
-
Should 'Vanishing Spray' be introduced globally?
The spray, which has been designed to stop defensive walls from encroaching closer than 10 yards to the ball at free-kicks, is set to be discussed at next month's IFAB meeting
Advertisement
Advertisement
