Kekana knocking on Bafana’s door

Not since the calamitous home loss to the Cape Verde Islands in Durban 14 months ago has Hlompho Kekana started a game for SA‚ but the 33-yearold now has another chance to impose himself as Bafana’s midfield general this month.

The must-win Africa Cup of Nations qualifier – against Nigeria at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on November 17 – is the perfect stage for the Zebedelia-born enforcer to make his mark with the national team.

Kekana – save for the times when he has been injured – has been consistently called up by Bafana coach Stuart Baxter to his squads.

But the imposing Mamelodi Sundowns defensive midfielder has not had playing time since the 3-1 World Cup qualifying win over Burkina Faso at FNB Stadium in October 2017‚ when he came on for the final 20 minutes for Andile Jali.

Now, however, with the long-term injury to Dean Furman‚ and the shorter-term ankle problem for Kamohelo Mokotjo‚ the Sundowns skipper emerges as the man likely to run things when Bafana tackle the Super Eagles.

Kekana and his clubmate‚ Tiyani Mabunda‚ are expected to get the call to provide the midfield muscle usually applied by Furman and Mokotjo.

While things ticked over nicely at home against the Seychelles‚ with SA going on to score a record 6-0 win at FNB in October‚ the return game on the Indian Ocean island four days later proved a disaster.

The goalless draw has impacted on Bafana’s chances of qualifying for June’s finals in Cameroon.

SA can restore their chances by beating the powerful Nigerians next weekend.

Kekana’s ability to spray the ball behind fullbacks and bring speedy wingers and overlapping fullbacks into play is just the tactic Baxter would be wise to consider against Nigeria – who will come into the game with a cocky and adventurous approach and will leave space behind to exploit.

For all his achievements at club level with Sundowns‚ Kekana has not made much of an impact at national level, only debuting for Bafana in 2011.