News: July 03, 2008, 17:45
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Bafana's performance not up to standard: Jordaan

South Africa's ailing soccer team is paying the price of poor development structures. 2010 Local Organising Committee CEO, Danny Jordaan, admitted for the first time that Bafana Bafana still had some ground to cover to be considered world class. He was addressing a gathering to mark the three-year sponsorship renewal of SAFA Soweto.

South Africa is struggling to qualify for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Next year, the team's soccer prowess will be informed by their performances against the might of Spain, Brazil and Italy in the Confederations Cup.

Spain has won the EURO 2008 and also competed in the under-17 and under-20 world cups. Their soccer development sharply contrasts South Africa's soccer evolution. Jordaan believes South Africa must return to the basics to acquire a world class team.

Jordaan says: “It can only happen at grassroots football when structures like SAFA Soweto have the infrastructure, funding and facilities to create under-17, under-20 world champions … then we will have Bafana Bafana world champions. It’s a long way to go."