Canada-South Africa match to be broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet

Canada’s men’s national team will face the Republic of South Africa in an international friendly match on Tuesday 20 November at 12.30 ET / 9.30 PT live on Rogers Sportsnet.



“We know that South Africa will be a strong opponent as they build towards hosting the 2010 World Cup,” says head coach Dale Mitchell. “For us it is an opportunity to test ourselves against a different style of play but in conditions we face regularly in CONCACAF. 2007 has been a positive year for the men’s national team and we would like to continue to build momentum towards the qualifying process that begins in 2008.”



The Rogers Sportsnet Soccercentral on-air team of Gerry Dobson and Craig Forrest will supply the commentary and analysis, respectively.



The game is the first-ever match between the two nations and also Canada’s first trip to the African continent in over four years. Canada defeated Libya in Tripoli 4:2 in February 2003.



Canada begins qualifying for FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 next year. Currently the Canadians sit third among CONCACAF nations, behind México and the United States, in FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings.



The game will be played in the city of Durban. The city is one of the host cities for FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010. Durban has played host to some big soccer matches including South Africa’s first post-apartheid international game in 1992, an 0:1 loss to Cameroun.