Bafana Bafana and SuperSport United shot stopper Ronwen Williams is concerned about the number of overseas clubs, who have refused to release players for the South African senior national football team.
Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki revealed on Monday that Glasgow Rangers 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.
That has forced Ntseki to reinforce his squad as they are preparing for two crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana in Johannesburg on Thursday and Sudan 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 squad.
“Obviously, it’s disappointing. We started this journey together. We lost some of our soldiers. It’s not gonna be easy because we have a short time,” Williams said. “Preparations started long ago, we know the game plan and what to do. We know what we want to achieve as a team. It’s not gonna be easy, but it’s a challenge we are looking forward to. We want a perfect home record.”
Bafana’s match against the Black Stars at the FNB Stadium in Nasrec on Thursday is going to start at 18h00 and they will then fly out of the country for Sudan straight away after the match.
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
