South Africa will look to end a six-game losing streak when they take on Madagascar in an international friendly at the Absa Stadium in Kimberley on Saturday (kick-off 3.30pm).

Bafana's preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup have hit a lean spell in terms of results, but the quality of opposition against which the national team has suffered six straight defeats at least means that they are testing themselves against some of the very best sides in the world.

With all due respect to Madagascar, that will not be the case this weekend. 'Barea', as they are nicknamed, have never qualified for the African Cup of Nations, let alone the World Cup, but they will still be something of an unknown quantity for Bafana and should therefore provide an interesting and worthwhile challenge.

Coach Joel Santana has named a 22-man squad comprised solely of locally-based players for this match. Orlando Pirates' Teko Modise and Ajax Cape Town's Franklin Cale were meant to be part of the squad but were withdrawn due to injury.

There have some surprise inclusions — the likes of Emille Baron, Siyanda Xulu, Gert Schalkwyk and Reneilwe Letsholonyane, who have not been regulars with their club thus far this season — but it definitely widens the pool of talent from which Bafana can pick players.

South Africa and Madagascar have met on just four occasions in official senior international matches, a surprisingly low number considering that they are 'colleagues' in the COSAFA region.

And it has been more than six years since Bafana and Barea met: the last encounter was an international friendly at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg in March 2003, won 2-0 by the hosts.

South Africa have won three of the four matches between the nations, with the other being a goalless draw in the 2002 COSAFA Cup that went to penalties: Bafana won the shootout 4-1.

The Bafana squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Emille Baron (SuperSport United), Darren Keet (BidVest Wits).

DEFENDERS: Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Rooi Mahamutsa (Orlando Pirates), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Siyanda Xulu (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Midfielders: Ruben Cloete (Free State Stars), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Daine Klate (SuperSport United), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Benson Mhlongo (Orlando Pirates), Clifford Ngobeni (Ajax Cape Town), Siyabonga Nkosi (SuperSport United), Gert Schalkwyk (Orlando Pirates), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs).

FORWARDS: Richard Henyekane (Golden Arrows), Mabhuti Khenyeza (Mamelodi Sundowns), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sthembiso Ngcobo (Free State Stars).


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