Sluggish South Africa held by Jamaica

Unimpressive South Africa were held 0-0 by dogged Jamaica in a friendly international.

The match came 24 hours after South Africa officially launched their bid to host the 2010 World Cup, which has been reserved for Africa with Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia the other contenders.

It was a friendly Bafana Bafana (The Boys) were expected to win despite lacking several first choice players, including injured Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune.

But a near-capacity crowd at the 25,000-seat Athlone Stadium in the south west city saw the Reggae Boyz hold their own with Claude Davis an impressive defensive marshal.

The visitors from Caribbean came closest to scoring in the opening half as Brian Baloyi produced a superb reflex save to push away a Jermaine Johnson drive that took a wicked deflection.

No one illustrated the fighting spirit of the Boyz more than Johnson who, apart from being a persistent threat to the Bafana defence, often took the law into his hands.

Zimbabwe referee Joseph Musasa ran out of patience after 58 minutes and cautioned Johnson from English Premiership strugglers Bolton Wanderers for grabbing midfielder Sibusiso Zuma around the neck.

South Africa conceded possession far too cheaply and leading domestic scorer Lesley Manyathela once again disappointed on the international stage, wasting a good opportunity before half-time.

As a Zuma free kick flew invitingly across the Jamaican penalty area, the unmarked South African was perfectly positioned to score at the far post, but poor control resulted in his stab at the ball flying over.

Stanton Fredericks fired wide after an intricate Bafana move midway through the second half and, when the midfielder was on target soon after, his timid effort barely troubled goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts.

In their next friendly linked to the World Cup bid, South Africa face 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists England on May 22 at Absa Park in the Indian Ocean city of Durban.