Thomond set for second soccer friendly

THOMOND PARK is set to stage its second international soccer friendly after it was announced yesterday that the Republic of Ireland will face World Cup hosts South Africa in a friendly on Tuesday, September 8.

The match follows on from August’s arrival of Australia to the Limerick venue and will serve as further preparation for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side in advance of October’s closing World Cup qualification clashes against Italy and Montenegro in October. It also comes three days after the visit to Cyprus who succumbed 1-0 at Croke Park last October.

The ‘Bafana-Bafana’ will provide a useful test for the Irish, who currently lead Group 8, and they are likely to call on players such as Blackburn Rovers pair Benni McCarthy and Aaron Mokoena and Everton’s Steven Pienaar.