Gordon Igesund has named a young Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming international friendly with Morocco as he looks to build his team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
South Africans were left disappointed last month when it was confirmed that Bafana would not be heading to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as Ethiopia qualified from the group, leaving Igesund’s men behind.
However, Igesund now seems to be looking towards the future, naming a 23-man squad with an average age of just 24 for this month’s encounter with The Lions of the Atlas.
While no Orlando Pirates, other than Kermit Erasmus, have been picked in the side due to their participation in the semifinals of the CAF Champions League, there are 12 PSL-based players that have received a call-up.
“We seriously had to sit down and look at Pirates’ situation. We need to support them in this campaign hence I decided to leave their players out as we don’t want to jeopardise their preparations in any way,” said the Bafana Bafana mentor.
Among them are Wits captain Sibusiso Vilakazi and Keagan Dolly of Ajax Cape Town, who have been rewarded for their fine form in the PSL so far this season.
“Next year it could be Ajax Cape Town or Moroka Swallows or any other team and we will do exactly the same thing. We hope their success will rub off on the national team as it did in 1995 when Pirates won the continental title and Bafana Bafana lifted the Afcon trophy the following year,” he added.
In addition, Daylon Claasen and Ayanda Patosi, of Lech Poznan and Lokeren respectively, have been included in the squad, having recently started playing regular football after spending spells on the sidelines.
Other overseas-based players to have received another chance in the Bafana fold are Darren Keet, Kgosi Ntlhe, Siyanda Xulu and Kamohelo Mokotjo, while there is no place for Ajax Amsterdam’s Thulani Serero.
The oldest player in the squad is Kaizer Chiefs' Reneilwe Letsholonyane, while at 19 Kgsoi Ntlhe is the youngest.
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala has been left out due to injury.
“When Morocco invited us to play at the new stadium, we jumped at the opportunity because of the fact that between now and the 2015 Afcon qualifiers there are only two Fifa calendar dates to prepare for those qualifiers.
“So this gives me a great opportunity to have a look at some players and, had we not taken this opportunity we would have had to wait for March 2014 to prepare for our first qualifier in September. Half of the team I selected will represent us in the Chan while the other will feature in the qualifiers, so it’s a two-pronged approach,” said Igesund.
“We are playing a very formidable team and you know North African teams are strong and will give us a stern test. This is a very serious match for both sides and there is some rivalry in that in our last match we drew 2-2 in the Afcon earlier this year – a match that was voted the best of the Afcon tournament.”
The squad assembles on Sunday, 6 October and will depart for Morocco on Monday, 7 October. Kick-off is at 9pm (CAT) on Friday, 11 October.
Bafana Bafana squad
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Darren Keet (KV Kortrijk, Belgium)
Defenders: Anele Ngcongca (Genk, Belgium), Thabo Nthete (Bloemfontein Celtic), Bongani Khumalo (Doncaster Rovers, England), Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs), Buhle Mkhwanazi (University of Pretoria), Siyanda Xulu (FC Rostov, Russia), Kgosi Nthle (Peterborough United, England)
Midfielders: Kamohelo Mokotjo (PEC Zwolle, Netherlands), Bongani Zungu (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sibusiso Vilakazi (BidVest Wits), Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren, Belgium), Daylon Claasen (Lech Poznan, Poland), Keagan Dolly (Ajax Cape Town), Dean Furman (Doncaster Rovers, England), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace, England), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Lerato Chabangu (Moroka Swallows)
Strikers: Tokelo Rantie (Bournemouth, England), Kermit Erasmus (Orlando Pirates), Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs)
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