Knocking on Bafana door
Now up to coach Baxter to decide
This is the day Cape Town City midfielder Thabo Nodada has been waiting for, hoping to get a Bafana Bafana call-up.
Nodada, 23, didn’t do his chances any harm with a fine performance to help City beat SuperSport United 4-1 on penalties in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium at the weekend after the match finished goalless.
Nodada, from Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal, was a marvel to watch in front of his home crowd. With the trophy in the bag, he said he’s “dying” for a Bafana opportunity.
Bafana face Seychelles in two 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers on October 13 at FNB Stadium and away three days later.
“I think I’ve been very consistent and I do think about (Bafana). I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been playing, but that’s the coach’s choice,” Nodada said, still soaking in the moment of their Wafa Wafa triumph.
“I’ll obviously be very honoured to get a chance; I’m dying for one, but at this point in time, all I’m worried about is celebrating. I’ll see what tomorrow brings... I’ll be praying for it, that’s for sure.”
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter will announce the squad in Johannesburg this morning. Seeing his name there would be the icing on the cake for Nodada, who’s been likened to Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante.
In the final, Nodada was one of the standout performers and was delighted with the support from his home province. Perhaps the fact that other KZN boys captain Thamsanqa Mkhize (KwaXimba), Kwanda Mngonyama (Claremont) and Siphelele Mthembu (Melmoth) were also in the team, helped their cause as the crowd rooted for them.
Nodada is delighted that they didn’t disappoint this time after faltering against the same opponents in last year’s decider.
“I’m speechless seeing so many people out there wearing the
Nodada Tshirt... so many people screaming my name and to be able to lift the trophy in front of them, is overwhelming.
“Something happens whenever I’m playing in KZN, things just go my way. I try to make a bad pass and it turns out to be a good pass,” he quipped.
Tendai Ndoro will watch the Absa Premiership match between his new club Highlands Park and Kaizer Chiefs from the stands at Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa tomorrow (7.30pm).
That is because the 33-yearold Zimbabwean, who was at the centre of a registration storm last season at relegated Ajax Cape Town, will be starting a two-match ban.
Club director Sinky Mnisi said: “As much as we are happy to have signed Ndoro last Thursday, we’ve got to abide by the rules.
“We’ve got to be cautious. I personally asked for the verdict, which Safa gave me. He must serve his two-match suspension. Look, it is like someone getting a red card at end of season. That red card stands in the early season.
“We’ve allocated 8 000 ticket to Computicket and Shoprite Checkers. We will sell 2 000 more tickets for safety measures. No tickets will be sold at the stadium.
“If you don’t have a ticket, do not even come close to the stadium. Go to Computicket or BlackStar Supermarket in Tembisa,” said Mnisi.
He dubbed their clash with Amakhosi as “pay back time” because Chiefs contributed to their relegation to the NFD two seasons ago.
“We played them at home in Tembisa and they got a penalty and beat us 1-0,” he said of the 2016 clash. “We met again in Durban and they beat us 1-0 from a corner kick.
“We are ready to settle the score and I am happy that they are playing well. We cannot allow them to bully us twice in our own kraal.”
Highlands beat Golden Arrows 2-1 before losing 1-0 to Free State Stars. They are ninth on the log. Chiefs, who beat Stars and AmaZulu 2-0, are third on the log.