South Africa Squad Released

Because the MNT Blog isn’t back from hiatus yet (just wait until next week!), we’ve decided to point you to the South Africa squad for this month’s friendly via the Global Blog.

The U.S. takes on South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup on Saturday November 17. Kickoff at Ellis Park is 4 p.m. local (9 a.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on FSC and Galavision.

Manager Carlos Alberto Parreira has called together a strong team to face the United States in Johannesburg on November 17^th. Headlining the squad is Blackburn Rovers’ Benni McCarthy who, after a slow start to the season, is starting to relocate the form that has made him one of Europe’s most feared strikers for the past few years.

Other notable inclusions in the squad are Bradley Carnell, a defender with German side Karlsruhe. His club have surprised everybody so far in the Bundesliga, and currently reside in fourth place, after only being promoted this season.

Winger Steven Pienaar is a teammate of Tim Howard’s at Everton, and the 25-year old is making an impression on Merseyside this season, where he is on a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund. He is also the subject of this tremendously-scored highlight video chronicling his time at Ajax.

Parreira has brought in players from five different countries across Europe, including five from Germany and three from England. The team is also comprised of ten players based in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

Stay tuned for an upcoming roster release for the U.S. team, which we’ll have on ussoccer.com later this week.