Call-up just reward for player worth his weight in Gould
Few expected his return to Bafana
You can never write off anyone, especially strong characters like SuperSport United and Bafana Bafana defender Morgan Gould.
Gould, 34, is back in Bafana four years since his last appearance in a 2-0 win over Central African Republic in a World Cup qualifier.
He’s now part of the squad to play Cape Verde islands in backto-back 2018 World Cup qualifiers early next month.
Few expected the centre-back to be a regular at SuperSport after his return to the club after being released by Kaizer Chiefs, let alone return to the national set-up.
Gould played nine games for Chiefs in his last season (2015/16), and with SuperSport signing the likes of Tefu Mashamaite at the start of last season, he was expected to play only a small role.
The Noordgesig-born defender, however, went on to play 31 matches in all competitions and was named the club’s player of the season recently. The Bafana call-up is the cherry on the the cake.
“It was a long season and this is a great reward for me just to be called up,” Gould told Sowetan yesterday.
“Obviously, there were those who were realistic and said, ‘look at your age and what’s happening – the guys are doing well’. So that spurred me on, but I didn’t put pressure on myself,” he said.
The 2009/10 PSL Footballer of the Season made his 300th PSL start in the 2-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Tshwane Derby last weekend.
He also has 25 substitute appearances under his belt since making his debut for Jomo Cosmos in the 2002/03 season.
“It takes a brave selector to pick someone at my age. It just shows they have the belief in me and see something good.”
Gould will face his former side Kaizer Chiefs at
FNB Stadium tonight (7.30pm) before joining camp for national duty.