Brothers to play for SA
Mosimane announces Bafana squad for 2014 World Cup qualifiers today
HISTORY will be made today when the Sangweni siblings – Siyabonga and Thamsanqa will be named by Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane for the opening Fifa World Cup qualifiers, against Ethiopia and Botswana next week.
Mosimane and his assistant Steve Komphela will name the team today.
This will be the first time two brothers are selected for the national team.
Siyabonga plays for reigning Absa Premiership champions Orlando Pirates where has been outstanding since joining them from Lamontville Golden Arrows at the beginning of the season.
The rock-solid defender has been influential in helping Pirates chase a unique successive treble in the Premier Soccer League. They are away to his former club in Durban on Saturday where a win will secure the league title.
This week he was included in the three nominees for the Premiership Player of the Season along with the Moroka Swallows duo of Siyabonga Nomvethe and David Mathebula.
Younger brother Thamsanqa has played a massive role in helping AmaZulu move away from the relegation quagmire to be in a position to fight for a top eight finish. They need to beat Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday if they are to finish well inside the top eight.
The Sangwenis have each scored three goals in the league this season. The brothers came close to being selected together for Bafana’s friendly against Senegal earlier this year, but Mosimane opted not to include Pirates players as they were preparing for a Caf Champions League fixture in Angola.
Sangweni junior has also represented South Africa at U23 level. He was part of the team selected by coach Shakes Mashaba for the inaugural African U23 championships in Morocco where South Africa failed to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
South Africa’s World Cup qualifiers are against Ethiopia at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on June 3 and Botswana in Gaborone three days later.
Amazulu coach Roger Palmgren yesterday revealed that Thamsanqa was battling with an ankle injury.
“I think the injury is quite serious,” said Palmgren. “Our physiotherapist reckons [Sangweni] should take around 10 days to two weeks rest.”
Meanwhile, following his storming return to the Kaizer Chiefs lineup after being sidelined by a knee injury for three months, Reneilwe Letsholonyane is also back with Bafana.
Letsholonyane capped his return to league football with a man-of-the-match award in his first game back.
He is one of the six Kaizer Chiefs players, who will be included in the Bafana team to play against Ethiopia and Botswana.
The other five are Lehlohonolo Majoro, Bernard Parker, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Itumeleng Khune and Keagan Ritchie. Defender Siboniso Gaxa, who will become a Chiefs player on July 1 following his move from Belgian side Lierse, started training with the club yesterday and will also be in the Bafana squad.
Letsholonyane returned to action in their Absa Premiership match against Mamelodi Sundowns three weeks ago, delivering his award-winning performance despite being on the field for only 45 minutes after replacing Lucky Baloyi at halftime.
Last week he was on the scoresheet along with Parker when Chiefs beat Ajax Cape Town 2-0 in Polokwane.
Letsholonyane, who became a father two weeks ago, last featured for Bafana Bafana against Zambia in January where he was the stand-in captain.
There is no place for Benni Mccarthy while his Pirates teammates Tlou Segolela, Moeneeb Josephs, Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali are in the squad.
Mosimane has selected four from Free State Stars in Katlego Mashego, Ayanda Gcaba, Edward Manqele and Mzikayise Mashaba.