Shakes: If you have a SA ID book, you qualify for Bafana ...
THE Cosafa Cup, currently taking place in Rustenburg, is not a top priority for Bafana Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba. While he insists the squad he has selected will be competitive, and that they’ll go out with victory as their primary focus, he has other, more important goals, he wants to achieve at this tournament.
Hosted in South Africa, at the Moruleng and Royal Bafokeng Stadiums in Rustenburg, in the North West Province, this is the 14th edition of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa).
The group stage rounds are being played this week, involving countries such as Madagascar, Tanzania, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Seychelles and Mauritius.
South Africa, along with Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Ghana and Botswana, make their bow in the event at the quarter-final stage.
Bafana’s first match is on Sunday when they take on Botswana at the Moruleng Stadium. The final is scheduled for May 30.
For Mashaba, though, it’s an opportunity to broaden the base of players available to the SA national squad. Since taking over as head coach, the 64-yearold has set about changing the face of the team. He has pensioned off some of the all-too regular names and given the squad a youthful, fresh look.
In June, the all-important 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers get under way – and Mashaba is hoping his Cosafa Cup squad mix of top-flight and lower tier players will unearth a few new names.
“I am hoping that three or four players from this squad will show enough that I can pick them for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,” said Mashaba. “I’ve always believed in the talent in this county… my belief is that, if you have a SA ID book, then you qualify to play for Bafana. It doesn’t matter what league you play in.
“There is a lot of untapped talent, which is why we have to look lower down, at the First and Second Division, because it gives us an opportunity to widen our pool of players.”
Bafana played a few warmup matches ahead of Sunday’s Cosafa opener and that has led to a few injury withdrawals. Cole Alexander and Puleng Tlolane, both of Polokwane City, are out injured, as well as promising 17-year-old Knysna- born SuperSport United midfielder, Athenkosi Dlala.
Yesterday Mashaba revealed that he had brought in three replacements - Mduduzi Nyanda and Tlou Segolela (both Platinum Stars) and Lebogang Manyama (Supersport United). Bafana Bafana squad: Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Mondle Mphoto (SuperSport FC), Ricardo Goss (Golden Arrows) Defenders: Madisha Modjeka (M.Tigers FC), Subisiso Mxoyana (Vasco da Gama), Marc Van Heerden (AmaZulu), Siyabonga Nhlapho (Wits), Kwanda Mngonyama (Maritzburg United), Clayton Daniels (SuperSport United), Sibusiso Khumalo (Mamelodi Sundowns) Midfielders: Thapelo Morena (Bloemfontein Celtic), Thamsanqa Sangweni (Chippa United), Carl Lark (Santos), Hendrick Ekstein (Kaizer Chiefs), Lebogang Manyama (Supersport United), Mduduzi Nyanda and Tlou Segolela (both Platinum Stars) Strikers: Phumelele Bhengu (Thanda Royal Zulu), Gift Matupa (Baroka FC), Moeketsi Sekola (Free State Stars)