Apologetic Zungu gets Bafana nod
• Coach Ntseki gives midfielder another chance as did Glasgow Rangers manager Gerrard
Glasgow Rangers’ Bongani Zungu has been included in coach Molefi Ntseki’s squad for Bafana Bafana’s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan later in March.
Ntseki picked Zungu in spite of a disciplinary infraction in February that led to isolation of two weeks for the midfielder after he had been caught at a house party with four Rangers teammates.
At the time it seemed Zungu, who is on loan to Rangers, might have damaged his chances of making permanent the move to the Scottish league leaders. However, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard appeared to hand the midfielder a lifeline when sending him on as a substitute in a match against Livingstone in midweek.
Ntseki said the SA Football Association had been in contact with Rangers‚ who opted not to impose further sanctions on Zungu. Ntseki said he also spoke to the player, who “had apologised to me”.
Ntseki’s desire to draw on Zungu’s experience is understandable given how Covid-19 conditions have decimated his options already narrowed by injuries and unavailable players.
The coach said since Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the only keeper playing regularly‚ that department was a headache in his selection process — hence the inclusion of Kaizer Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune
even though he had only recently earned game time‚ and AmaZulu’s Veli Mothwa.
The death of Mamelodi Sundowns defender Motjeka Madisha in a car crash was also a blow to his plans, he said.
Defender Siyanda Xulu‚ now at Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel; Thulani Serero‚ at Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi; Orlando Pirates’ Ben Motshwari and Sipho Mbule of SuperSport United were other interesting additions as Ntseki cast his net wide to bolster depth in the squad.
Pirates’ Thembinkosi Lorch and Lamontville Golden Arrows’
Nkosinathi Sibisi are out with injury. SuperSport midfielder Teboho Mokoena and Cape Town City defender Abubakker Mobara have recently returned from injury‚ but not in time to make the SA squad.
Kamohelo Mokotjo was ruled out because his US Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati have been out of action as the league has been suspended.
Ntseki had said his life would be made difficult selecting a squad because of injuries and rate of rotation at clubs enforced by Covid-19 conditions.
Bafana host Ghana at FNB
Stadium on March 25 and Sudan in Khartoum on March 28.
After four matches‚ and with the last two still to be played‚ Group C is tight. Ghana and SA have nine points‚ the Black Stars leading by a superior goal difference (+4 to +3).
Third-placed Sudan have six points but seem likely to pick up three more away against Sao Tome and Principe before the match in Khartoum.
A draw against Ghana will place Bafana on 10 points‚ and needing a win or draw from their final game away to Sudan (if Sudan beat Sao Tome) to
progress. A defeat against the Black Stars will leave SA needing a win against the Sudanese to qualify.
The South Africans will also hope Sao Tome can hold Sudan to a draw or even beat them in the West African island nation to make Bafana’s task easier.
If Sudan draw in Sao Tome, Bafana would need a draw in Khartoum (assuming SA lose against Ghana). If Sudan lose in Sao Tome then‚ even if Bafana lose against Ghana‚ the South Africans can draw at home to Sudan‚ or even lose by a certain margin‚ and still progress.
Bafana will undergo Covid-19 tests before the match against Ghana. Since they need to travel within 48 hours of the test‚ this will also serve their purposes for the flight to Khartoum. They will be tested in Sudan again‚ which will serve their purposes for the return flight as well.