FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Debutants South Africa began their countdown to the World Cup in France next month with a 1-1 draw against Zambia here Wednesday.

New cap Mathews Kamwashi scored an opportunist ninth-minute goal for the visitors and Shaun Bartlett equalised after 57 minutes before a 30,000 crowd on a cold night at FNB Stadium. South Africa, who face hosts France, Denmark and Saudi Arabia in Group C, began with news caps in Dutch-based goalkeeper Hans Vonk and midfielder Alfred Phiri from Turkish club Vanspor. Vonk was at fault for the Zambian goal as he moved to cut off a low cross from Masauso Tembo, then retreated and Kamwashi stabbed the ball over the line despite the presence of three defenders. Phiri seemed overawed by the occasion and was replaced at half-time by another newcomer, German-based Delron Buckley, who posed a much bigger threat on the left side of midfield.

The South African equaliser was an untidy affair as Zambia failed to clear a cross and a John ‘Shoes’ Moshoeu shot struck Bartlett en route to the net. There were few clearcut chances until the closing stages when a sudden flurry of action saw Vonk race out to block Tembo and Mbulo stop a shot from unmarked Jerry Sikhosana.

South Africa were making their debut under French coach Philippe Troussier, who made six second-half substitutions as he seeks a winning combination for France.

“I was very happy with the performance. We displayed a positive approach against worthy opponents and I am even more optimistic about the World Cup now,”  he said.

South Africa, who wore their World Cup strip for the first time, fly to Argentina Thursday for a much tougher warm-up match against the 1978 and 1986 World Cup winners in Buenos Aires on May 25.