Expect surprises in Pitso’s SA squad
SIYABONGA Nomvethe is sure to get his first call-up to Bafana Bafana in two years this week, but coach Pitso Mosimane could surprise with some of his other choices.
The beleaguered national coach, whose future depends on good wins against Ethiopia and Botswana in the opening 2014 Fifa World Cup scrimmages at the start of next month, is turning to established players to ensure his tenure continues.
Mosimane plans to name his squad on Thursday, and for the selection to assemble on Sunday after the final day of the season.
He is considering a call-up for Paulus Masehe of Free State Stars and planning to pick Eleazar Rodgers of Santos as a possible target man for the two matches.
Masehe would be a surprise choice but not unmerited after an outstanding season for Free State Stars.
The 28-year-old started out his career as a striker at Mamelodi Sundowns but finally earns higher recognition as a tough-tackling defensive midfielder with Ea lla Koto.
Masehe’s teammate Mzikayise Mashaba, linked with a possible move to Kaizer Chiefs in the next weeks, is also in line to be named in the national squad.
The 23-year-old with the Mohican haircut debuted as a substitute in stoppage time at the end of the Bafana friendly against Equatorial Guinea in January.
Rodgers has returned from a lengthy injury lay-off to boost Santos’ hopes of surviving playing in the Premier Soccer League’s promotion-relegation playoffs.
Nomvethe’s return after a two-year absence has followed the best ever season in his long career. The 34-year-old will finish as the league’s top scorer and is a shoo-in for the Player of the Season award.
He will win his 80th cap, two years after his last appearance against France in Bloemfontein in the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Mosimane will have to do without Morgan Gould, Punch Masenamela, Lebohang Mokoena, Teko Modise and Katlego Mphela for the first week of his preparation as they will remain with Supersport United and Mamelodi Sundowns in the build-up for the Nedbank Cup final.
Meanwhile, Mosimane is heading for another crisis at left-back with the start of the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers just a few weeks away.
Tsepo Masilela was once again ruled out of Getafe’s final La Liga match of the season at home to Real Zaragoza yesterday with a groin injury that simply won’t heal.
The 28-year-old has played just three La Liga matches since February, with niggling injuries keeping him on the sidelines. What will be most worrying for him is that he has been on and off the treatment table with various ailments since December 2010 and has battled to put a run of games together.
It is a big shame for a player who is highly rated at Getafe, but has been unable to show the club’s supporters his ability week in and week out before heading back to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, when his loan spell in Spain ends next month.
And Mosimane will be sweating too. The national coach has battled on two fronts with team selection since taking over from Carlos Alberto Parreira after the 2010 World Cup. The first is to find a strikepartner for Katlego Mphela, the second has been to find cover at left-back for Masilela.
So far he has tried Orlando Pirates’ Ruben Cloete and Thabo Matlaba, FS Stars’ Ayanda Gcaba, Bloemfontein Celtic’s Prince Hlela, Lamontville Golden Arrows’ Mzuvukile Tom, Masenamela, and even regular right-back Siboniso Gaxa in the role.
Gaxa will probably be the top candidate to take over from Masilela against Ethiopia and Botswana next month, having filled in the role at Belgian side Lierse this season.
But it is not a position he looks comfortable in and it certainly stunts Bafana’s attacking down the lefthand side.
Another option would be to play Bongani Khumalo in the position – he acts as cover there for Tottenham Hotspur – with Morgan Gould and Siyabonga Sangweni as the centre-backs.