Mokotjo and Lebusa get call-up
FC TWENTE midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo and Ajax Cape Town left-back Mosa Lebusa have been called up as late replacements to Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba’s squad for this month’s Central American tour.
Bafana meet Costa Rica in the city of Liberia on October 8 and Honduras in San Pedro Sula on October 13.
Mokotjo and Lebusa have been included in the wake of an ankle injury to Orlando Pirates playmaker Oupa Manyisa and a health condition that has affected Ajax striker Prince Nxumalo, the victim of an epileptic fit ahead of his club’s PSL match against Mamelodi Sundowns last week.
Safa communications director Dominic Chimhavi said the reason for a midfielder and left-back being called up to replace a midfielder and striker was because Mashaba was more concerned with bolstering his squad with players who might have something to offer Bafana, than replacing unavailable players.
“Actually the purpose was not to replace positions. The coach just felt the original squad was a bit short at left-back,” said Chimhavi. “With the Tsepo Masilela situation, and Thabo Matlaba having just returned from injury, the coach felt there were enough quality strikers left in the squad, but Mosa Lebusa could be worth a look at left-back.”
Kaizer Chiefs left-back Masilela controversially withdrew from last month’s Bafana squad that did duty in the 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations defeat against Mauritania in Nouakchott and 1-0 friendly win against Senegal at Orlando Stadium.
Chiefs and Masilela, who failed to arrive in camp for a medical assessment, were due to face a Safa disciplinary committee hearing today [[Friday]].
Mokotjo has been overlooked by Mashaba since being called up for a squad that met Swaziland and Nigeria in friendlies in March. He started in the 3-1 win against Swaziland in Lobamba, but did not feature in the 1-1 draw against the Super Eagles in Nelspruit.
Meanwhile, South Africa have slipped one place to number 73 in the latest Fifa World Rankings released yesterday. But they are not the only ones among their immediate opponents to be in free-fall, with both Angola and Cameroon making significant slips down the table.
Bafana meet Angola four times in a month, starting with African Nations Championship qualifiers later in October, before crucial 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in November. They have dropped nine places in the latest rankings to number 97 in the world and number 25 in Africa.
It is a sign of the struggles the side have faced in recent times and should provide confidence for Shakes Mashaba’s side.
Cameroon, who South Africa meet in crucial African Nations Cup qualifiers next March, dropped six places to number 48 in the global rankings and seventh in Africa.
Mauritania jumped a massive 25 places to number 89, in part on the back of their stunning 3-1 Nations Cup qualifier win over Bafana last month. Gambia, the other team in the qualification pool, dropped 18 places to number 161 on the global list.
Bafana Bafana face two friendly opponents from Central America next week, with the first, Costa Rica, dropping three places to number 42 on the global list.
The second, Honduras, dropped eight places to number 89.
Argentina continued to head the global list, with Germany having moved into second place, dropping Belgium down to third. — Additional reporting by Nick Said