Coach Broos poised to name new-look squad

THE euphoria that swept across the country in recent weeks as the first half of the season drew towards a close must have pleased Hugo Broos.

The ‘Big Three’ – Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns – were all in action against each other or battling for a common cause, silverware.

But it was the Sea Robbers who steered their ship to a trophy, winning the MTN8 after beating AmaZulu in the final on Saturday.

That victory augured well for some Pirates players, who would have impressed the Bafana commander-inchief.

Belgian Broos will address the nation at noon today when he announces his 23-man squad to face Mozambique and Angola in back-to-back friendlies at Mbombela Stadium next week.

He must have been impressed with the players that helped Pirates beat Sundowns, or those who played for Chiefs when the Amakhosi earned the bragging rights in the Soweto Derby.

The Belgian-born coach called up 15 players from the three giants, among the 30 he named in the preliminary squad a few days ago. There were notable returns for some of the players who missed the latest camp in October, including Chiefs’ duo Njabulo Blom and Yusuf Maart.

Since joining Chiefs, Maart hasn’t gotten a call-up. But his breathtaking goal and winner in his first Soweto derby appears to have impressed Broos.

Blom’s last call-up was late last year in the World Cup qualifiers. A lot has happened since then. It later surfaced that Blom was involved in a contractual dispute, but the 22-year-old seems to have put that behind him and rejuvenated his form.

Of the four Pirates players Broos called up in the initial squad, it’s only Nkosinathi Sibisi who could miss Bafana’s last camp, from Sunday. Sibisi had to be stretchered off in the first minute against Usuthu after a nasty tackle from Gabadinho Mhango.

Pirates’ Miguel Timm had a fantastic first half of the season and got an initial nod from Broos, alongside the red-hot Monnapule Saleng. The Belgian-born coach is expected to keep the bulk of the team that beat Sierra Leone and Botswana at the iconic FNB Stadium last time out.

And that’s why Sundowns’ Themba Zwane is set to make the final cut today, after his impressive exploits against the Leone Stars, where he scored a brace. Zwane, 32, who forced Broos into a change of heart after previously being omitted, could be what the national side needs in an experienced attacker.

Cyprus-based Mihlali Mayambela, who impressed on his debut last time out, is also set to make the final cut, but he still needs guidance.

Zwane cannot do it alone. Overseasbased Fragrie Lakay and Lyle Foster are not new to the national set-up, so they must help on and off the pitch.