Johannesburg - The chairman of the South African organizing committee of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Irvin Khoza, has blamed the poor performance of South African soccer on players' boozing. About half of all players in the first division Premier Soccer League "are affected by alcohol," Khoza, who is also chairman of the Orlando Pirates team, said in remarks quoted by the Sunday Independent.
"I know of a team who we (Pirates) played recently where five of the players were drunk and two had to be put on a drip," Khoza said.
"Some of these players are with Bafana Bafana (national side) as we speak," he added.
Alcoholism was a nationwide problem that reflected the "moral decadence" of South African society, Khoza claimed.
His remarks came amid growing concerns over the national team's performance after South Africa's 3-1 defeat to minnows Zambia in an African Nations Cup qualifier earlier this month.
Bafana Bafana's one goal allowed it to squeak through to the finals, set to take place in Ghana next year.
Former Brazilian national coach Carlos Alberto Parreira was brought on board earlier this year in an attempt to turn the team around before the 2010 World Cup, being hosted by South Africa.
