Overseas clubs’ refusal to release players has forced Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki to beef up his squad as they are preparing for two crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan.
Bafana Bafana are going to face Ghana’s Black Stars at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec on Thursday (18h00) and then fly out of the country for Sudan straight away after the Ghana match. They will meet the Sudanese away in Khartoum on Sunday.
Ntseki has called Lebo Maboe (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Thabiso Kutumela (Maritzburg United) as replacements for injured Kermit Erasmus (Sundowns) and Bradley Grobler (SuperSport United). Cape Town City’s Thabo Nodada, Mothobi Mvala from Sundowns, Orlando Pirates’ duo Thabang Monare and Vincent Pule have also been added to the Bafana Bafana squad.
“We had a Bafana Bafana workshop at the beginning of the year. We got medical recommendations that we must bring in a bigger squad because of the importance of the matches, back-to-back matches and the issue of COVID-19,” Ntseki said.
Glasgow Rangers have refused to release Bongani Zungu so are Al Jazira FC, who have insisted that Thulani Serero is also not coming. Dean Furman and Keegan Dolly are also not coming after their clubs refused to release them.
“We are still negotiating with the clubs to see if they can’t release the players. That is the situation we are in now. There are players we called up because of these challenges. As of now, we’ve got 30 players that we have selected,” Ntseki said.
“We should all agree that nobody from South Africa or Africa brought COVID-19. All over the world is a hot spot. For them not to release our players is a disappointment for us. This is very important for us as a country. We want to qualify and play in the AFCON. We believe this squad is going to deliver on the mandate.”
Meanwhile, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Percy Tau jetted in to the country on Monday morning and joined his compatriots in camp.
The selected squad:
Veli Mothwa, Ronwen Williams, Itumeleng Khune, Thibang Phete, Siyanda Xulu, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabang Monare, Mosa Lebusa, Innocent Maela, Sifiso Hlanti, Thapelo Morena, Craig Martin, Rivaldo Coetzee, Themba Zwane, Thulani Serero, Ben Motshwari, Bongani Zungu, Keegan Dolly, Percy Tau, Sipho Mbule, Andile Jali, Luther Singh, Dean Furman,
Vincent Pule, Thabo Nodada, Mothobi Mvala, Lebo Maboe, Thabiso Kutumela, Ruzaigh Gamildien, Lyle Foster
