Bafana's Afcon glory predicted

EASTERN Province soccer boss Mzimkhulu Fina has boldly predicted Bafana Bafana will travel to Port Elizabeth to play Ghana in the quarterfinals of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) on February 2.

"I can feel it in my bones that Bafana will come to Port Elizabeth for the quarterfinals where they will kill the Ghanaians and then march on to be crowned champions," the Safa NMB regional president said.

If the Bafana game at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is to materialise, then Bafana must finish second in Group A.

Fina says that if Bafana do end up playing in Port Elizabeth, the stadium will be filled to its 48000-seat capacity.

If Fina's prediction is to come true then Ghana, who are based in Port Elizabeth, will have to top Group B which they share with DR Congo, Mali and Niger.

The rules state the winners of Group B will meet the runners-up in Group A where Bafana are grouped with Cape Verde Islands, Morocco and Angola.

"Bafana are going to do very well in this tournament. In fact let me take out the very part of my statement and say just well," Fina said.

"If they just do well they end second in their group and that is what I want and what I am wishing for."

"I have a feeling in my bones that Bafana will come here to Port Elizabeth. That is not to say I do not want them to be top of their group.

"But, it will be better for us here in the metro if they finish second and that it what is behind my thinking."

Although ticket sales for the tournament have been sluggish, Fina says a Bafana visit to Port Elizabeth will provide challenges for the police and security.

"The police might have the challenge of pushing people away. People do not want to watch Bafana on big screen televisions, they want to see our national team live," Fina said.

Bafana start their bid for honours against Cape Verde Islands in Johannesburg on Saturday, while Ghana kick off their campaign against DR Congo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday.

"If Bafana play in Port Elizabeth it will be one of the biggest games in the history of the metro. It will be a real category A game," Fina said.

Ghana will arrive in Port Elizabeth today after impressive warm-up victories over Egypt and Tunisia in Abu Dhabi. They are hot favourites to top Group B.