Shakes Mashaba yesterday renewed the hope of those veterans who may have given up on ever donning the Bafana Bafana jersey again when the coach named Kaizer Chiefs pair Tefu Mashamaite and Reneilwe Letsholonyane in his latest squad to face Congo.
Not too long ago, Mashamaite, who turns 30 tomorrow and has just two caps for the national team, played down his chances of a call-up, but his and Letsholonyane’s form for Amakhosi recently has made it hard for Mashaba to ignore them, even though age is not on their side.
Mashamaite has been solid in a Chiefs defence that has conceded only twice this season, while Letsholonyane (32) has charged forward gracefully from midfield, scoring six goals in 10 appearances for the club this term.
Mashaba says he will need the experience of the two players for the home and away clashes against Congo for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers next month.
“You will remember, I said any player who plays football and has a South African ID will be given a chance. Letsholonyane comes in as back-up after his recent stellar performances. We will use his experience and aggressive-ness,” Mashaba said yesterday after naming his 26-man squad.
“We brought in Mashamaite. He has performed very well. We still have to look at him in training and see what he can offer us to ensure we do not concede a lot of goals. Their experience will add another dimension.”
Also back in the team is Ajax Amsterdam’s Thulani Serero and Orlando Pirates striker Kermit Erasmus.
Serero is yet to prove himself on the international stage and Mashaba believes the player needs to be motivated in the correct way to ensure he does not “switch off”.
“On the day Serero is fine, he will give you what you want. The only problem is that at times he switches off. But we will motivate him and make sure he is ready. He is one of the players who can change things for us.. He deserves to be in the team as well.
“Kermit has scored goals. He has shown that he has got the heart and he is strong. What we need to see more from him is involvement off the ball.”
First-time call-ups in the team include Kwanda Mngonyama and Fagrie Lakay, the young Santos striker who plays for the Under-20 team, Amajita. Lakay scored a brace recently as Amajita beat Cameroon to qualify for next year’s African Youth Championships. “People will ask who is Fagrie? I mean, he is doing well.
“When we were in Zambia with the Under-17s, he scored the winning goal. Today we are Zone 6 champions. And he is doing well in the Under-20s at the moment.”
Bafana, who are on four points in Group A, play Congo in Pointe Noire on an artificial pitch on October 11 and host the same team four days later in Polokwane.
Bafana squad
Goalkeepers: Senzo Meyiwa, Darren Keet, Dumis-ani Msibi. Defenders: Anele Ngcongca, Ayabulela Magqwaka, Sibusiso Khumalo, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Mulomowandau Mathoho, Thabo Matlaba, Rivaldo Coetzee, Kwanda Mngonyama, Tefu Mashamaite. Midfielders: Themba Zwane, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Oupa Manyisa, Andile Jali, Dean Furman, Mandla Masango, Keagan Dolly, Thulani Serero, Reneilwe Letsholonyane Strikers: Bongani Ndulula, Tokelo Rantie, David Zulu, Kermit Erasmus, Fagrie Lakay - The Star