Pule one of few seniors in Bafana Cosafa squad
BAFANA Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele named a youthful squad to play in the Cosafa Cup, which kicks off next month.
Mkhalele is set to oversee the squad, with first-team coach Hugo Broos still in his homeland of Belgium as he waits to receive his second Covid-19 vaccine jab. “The objective is to win the Cosafa Cup, and that will help us with our preparations for World Cup qualifiers,” Mkhalele said.
The Cosafa Cup – a tournament utilised by southern African nations for developmental purposes – kicks off on 7 July in Gqeberha. The tournament this year will also feature Senegal as a guest participant.
As was expected, the Bafana squad is devoid of senior players bar Orlando Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule.
Golden Arrows goalkeeper Sifiso Mlungwana was rewarded for his good form in the Premiership last season and has been called up to the squad.
It remains to be seen if he or Kaizer Chiefs’ Bruce Bvuma will be chosen to start in the games. The Bafana attack is set to be spearheaded by the young duo of Maritzburg United’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Tshegofatso Mabasa of Pirates.
Bafana have been drawn in a group that also features Lesotho, eSwatini and Botswana.
Chiefs players have been named in the squad, though the group will have to be amended if the Soweto giants reach the Caf Champions League final.
Chiefs have a 1-0 advantage over Wydad AC going into the second leg of their semi-final tie, which will be played at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Mkhalele reiterated that there are players on standby if Chiefs do progress to the final of Africa’s premier club competition.
Bafana Bafana Squad
Goalkeepers: Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs), Sifiso Mlungwana (Golden Arrows) Defenders: Rushine De Reuck (Mamelodi Sundowns), Denwin Farmer (Baroka), Siyabonga Ngezana (Kaizer Chiefs), Njabulo Ngcobo (Moroka Swallows), Keenan Phillips (Supersport United), Mashweu Mphahlele (Baroka), Sifiso Ngobeni (Bloemfontein Celtic), Bongani Sam (Orlando Pirates) Midfielders: Sphelele Mkhulise (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy), Siyethemba Sithebe (AmaZulu), Kgaogelo Sekgota (Moroka Swallows), Tiklas Thutlwa (Black Leopards), Happy Mashiane (Kaizer Chiefs), Vincent Pule (Orlando Pirates), Goodman Mosele (Baroka)
Strikers: Tshegofatso Mabasa (Orlando Pirates), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Maritzburg United)