Shakes Mashaba was at pains to quell lingering suspicions that he was coerced into calling up a number of overseas-based players who he had previously overlooked.
Announcing the 30-man squad for next week’s international friendlies against Swaziland and Nigeria, the Bafana Bafana coach insisted that it was the technical team’s decision that the likes of Thulani Serero, May Mahlangu, Ayanda Patosi and Kamohelo Mokotjo be included.
“Maybe people think someone may have changed our minds (about the players) – that is not so,” Mashaba said at Safa House yesterday. “There’s no way people can say to us that this must be done by force. We are an organisation. We’re not like a ship that has no rudder. We sit down and discuss.”
The four players had previously been declared surplus to requirements by the coach, with Serero omitted from the squad that went to the Africa Cup of Nations at the beginning of the year, after failing to report to a training camp.
Mahlangu was “banned indefinitely” by Safa, after pulling out of the Afcon qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria, while Patosi was left out after missing his flight for a qualifier against Sudan. Mokotjo was dismissed by the coach as “heavy and sluggish”.
A fortnight ago, Safa president Danny Jordaan made the announcement that all South African players would have to be considered for selection and made an undertaking, seen by many as a veiled instruction to the technical team, that those players out of favour must be engaged with the view of having them eligible for selection.
Yesterday’s inclusion of the four seemed to validate the suspicion the coach was instructed to include them but Mashaba denied this. He did, however, say they had spoken to the players and was hopeful they would honour the call-up.
We made an effort to engage the players and, if they don’t respond, we leave it to you the public to decide … I am not one to have a tiff with players. I don’t have time to be angry with them.”
Also back in the squad is Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, off since his injury at the end of last year.
Khune was also left behind for the Afcon, despite his club claiming he was fit, and after Bafana’s poor showing there were cries the shot-stopper should have been taken along.
He takes Darren Keet’s position with both his teammate Brilliant Khuzwayo and Jackson Mabokgwane retained.
Mashaba called up Black Leopards striker Siphelele Ntshangase who “is banging them in” in the National First Division. Tuks’s Thabo Mnyamane’s good work was also rewarded with inclusion into the country’s senior national squad. Polokwane City’s Cole Alexander and Daniel Cardoso of Free State Stars are the other new faces.
Mashaba is hoping the two matches will help the squad’s build-up for the 2017 Afcon qualifiers, which loom large.
“We will be starting with the next Afcon qualifiers. So we would like to see as many players as we can and give them the opportunity to show off their skills so that, when they start, we know what we have.”
Bafana will play Swaziland at Somhlolo Stadium in Mbabane on March 25 and host Nigeria at Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on March 29.
“We’re very happy Swaziland agreed to play us; they are part of our region and we must take them seriously… If we believe we are the best, we need to impart what we have and share with our neighbours.”
SA squad
Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane, Itumeleng Khune, Brilliant Khuzwayo.
Defenders: Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Nhlapo, Thabo Matlaba, Thapelo Morena, Erick Mathoho, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sibusiso Khumalo, Daniel Cardoso
Midfielders: Lebogang Phiri, Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali, Dean Furman, Mandla Masango, Cole Alexander, Thuso Phala, Jabulani Shongwe, Thulani Serero, Ayanda Patosi, Bongani Zungu, Kamohelo Mokotjo, May Mhlangu
Strikers: Tokelo Rantie, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Thbo Mnyamane, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Siphelele Ntshangase - The Star