Shabba back in business for Bafana
Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala is the latest surprise selection in the Bafana squad after Baxter called him up.
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala is the latest surprise selection in the Bafana Bafana squad after Stuart Baxter called him up for the back-to-back 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Senegal next month.
The 33-year-old Tshabalala, who has more than 80 caps for the national team, last played for Bafana three years ago, having made his debut for the senior national team against Egypt back in 2006 while he was still playing in the National First Division for Free State Stars.
The Amakhosi midfielder has been in fine form for his club in the early stages of the season, scoring two goals with one assist in nine games. With this in mind and a vast of experience Shabba brings, Baxter is adamant the midfielder’s presence in the team will play a huge role.
“At the moment Shabba is arguably the most influential player in the league,” said Baxter. “I think Shabba can give you a set-play, he can give a right pass, and he can pull one in from 30m. Apart from that, if you can forget about all of that, his experience in the dressing room is invaluable. He is a factoExper to other players. I think they will enjoy seeing Shabba having served the nation so well.”
The first leg of the qualifiers will be played on November 10 at Peter Mokaba Stadium, before the return leg in Dakar at Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor four days later.
Bafana’s hopes of qualifying for the competition lies entirely on themselves needing only to beat the Teranga Lions over two legs to book their spot at the global competition to be held in Russia.
Tshabalala’s recall to the Bafana set-up comes after the return of SuperSport United defender Morgan Gould, who made his comeback to the team during back-to-back defeats by Cape Verde in the World Cup qualifying journey following a long absence in the squad.
Stuart Baxter yesterday did his utmost to shift the pressure onto Senegal, ahead of next month’s two crucial 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. The Bafana Bafana head coach named a 26-man Bafana Bafana squad at Safa House for the Group D encounters with the Teranga Lions, with the two sides meeting in Polokwane on November 10, and in Dakar on November 14.
South Africa must win both games to qualify for the World Cup, while Senegal need just one more victory to be certain of progress. Baxter was positive in discussing whether Bafana could beat Aliou Cisse’s side, referencing the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win in Nigeria earlier this year, as well as last month’s World Cup qualifying victory over Burkina Faso.
“Absolutely (we can beat Senegal), if we can go to Nigeria and beat Nigeria, and if we can beat Burkina Faso, who played two tight games with Senegal, we can (beat them),” said the Bafana coach.
“We are the hunters and they are the hunted, if they want to drop off and maybe let us come on to them … we will be out hunting and we are hunting with nothing to lose. They will maybe feel they are being hunted with a hell of a lot to lose. Yes, we can win, and we are looking at the home match first and putting all our efforts into that … we will see where that leads us.”
Baxter named a similar squad to that which faced Burkina Faso, though captain Thulani Hlatshwayo is back from injury and Kaizer Chiefs defender Eric Mathoho returns from suspension.
Midfielder Bongani Zungu is in the squad despite his red card against Burkina Faso for violent conduct. Zungu clearly retaliated to an elbow thrown by Alain Traore in that game, which the match officials appeared to miss, and Baxter is hopeful this will mean Fifa only see fit to give Zungu a one-match ban at a hearing on November 2, meaning he is available for Dakar.
The one main surprise in the squad was the selection of Kaizer Chiefs’ Siphiwe Tshabalala, who at 33 earns his first call-up since 2014.
“This is not about throwing development out of the window,” added Baxter.
“This is about one game, one of the best teams in the continent are coming … we are talking about finding a squad that has enough weapons to knock them over in SA. Shabba at the moment is arguably the most influential player in the league.”