We have to adapt, says skipper Mario

It all makes a bit of a mockery of the concept of an international match, but Bafana Bafana are playing in the first leg of an African Nations Championship final qualifier against Zambia today.

The match in East London kicks off at 3pm, with Bafana coach Stuart Baxter deprived of many of the players in his original squad, because of clubs focusing on the start of the Premier Soccer League season.

It does seem more than a little daft that the scheduling of this game coincides with the first matches of the PSL season, the MTN8 quarterfinals.

What Baxter has been left with is a squad made up of players who have clearly been deemed surplus to requirements at their clubs.

One of these is Mario Booysen, who finds himself back at Mamelodi Sundowns after a lone spell at SuperSport United, but apparently not in Pitso Mosimane’s plans.

Booysen has been given the opportunity to captain Bafana in this game against Zambia.

“We have to adapt to the situation, it is another challenge for us but one we have to overcome. It may seem like it has affected the preparations but it is really nothing to look into because all of the guys that are here have a good attitude. The players that have come in look just as ready,” said Booysen on the disruption to the squad.

“We all have a responsibility to do our duty for the national team, because when all is said and done, you really look forward to this moment in your career of representing your country.”