Bafana to play friendly against Nigeria on August

     JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A game against Nigeria on August 10 will provide Bafana Bafana with the ideal preparation for their two African Cup of Nations qualifying games against Niger and Sierra Leone at the end the season.

    This was the view of South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani while surveying the South African national team's remaining program for the year.

    Nematandani said on Monday the basic agreement for the game against the Super Eagles in South Africa had been signed and only terms remained to be settled for a match-up that falls within a FIFA period for international matches and should therefore attract the countries strongest available lineups.

    "Playing against Nigeria is always a special occasion for Bafana," added the Safa president. "And with South Africa ranked 38th in the world and fourth in Africa and Nigeriia 39th in the world and fifth in Africa the rivalry¹ will take on an extra intensity²."Nematandani added, "Perhaps even more significantly it will provide ideal preparation for the deciding African Nations Cup qualifying games against Niger and Sierra Leone in September and October."The Safa president said negotiations³ to secure a suitable Bafana opponent for the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge game in November were also at an advanced stage, but he did not comment on the candidates with the issue yet to be finalized⁴.

    The Safa president said while the proposed match between Spain and a composite African XI to take place in South Africa on June or July as part of the events to celebrate the 2010 World Cup had not materialised because of the world champions' busy program, the idea of such a game being staged in the future had not been abandoned.

    Nematandani also confirmed that an invitation for Bafana to play three international fixtures⁵ in South America this month was down.

    He said financial constraints⁶ and problems securing the release of the best players were the reasons for declining the invitation.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

2 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 fixtures   

（房屋等的）固定装置( fixture的名词复数 )； 如（浴盆、抽水马桶）； 固定在某位置的人或物； （定期定点举行的）体育活动

参考例句：

• The insurance policy covers the building and any fixtures contained therein. 保险单为这座大楼及其中所有的设施保了险。
• The fixtures had already been sold and the sum divided. 固定设备已经卖了，钱也分了。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

6 constraints   

强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束

参考例句：

• Data and constraints can easily be changed to test theories. 信息库中的数据和限制条件可以轻易地改变以检验假设。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• What are the constraints that each of these imply for any design? 这每种产品的要求和约束对于设计意味着什么？ 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓