Phala an ace up Igesund’s sleeve

BAFANA coach Gordon Igesund says he searched “far and wide” when picking his final 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations and found Thuso Phala.

For most people watching live coverage of the national team squad announcement on December 30, the Platinum Stars winger was a surprise inclusion.

It was Sifiso Myeni, the Orlando Pirates star, who was expected to get the nod because he had simply played in more warm-up matches than Phala.

But Igesund said Phala was a bit of an ace up his sleeve.

Phala’s name popping up in Bafana’s starting line-up before their 1-0 defeat to Norway on Tuesday at the Cape Town Stadium was almost an unwelcome sight, until he produced a man-of-the-match

“After the Norway game, someone asked me if I was surprised with Phala’s performance. And I told them I couldn’t have been because that is why I picked him,” the coach said.

Indeed, Phala, a former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns player, was a revelation on Tuesday night in Cape Town.

“Just because he plays for a smaller team like

performance. Platinum Stars and a lot of people don’t get to see him doesn’t mean he is not a good player.

“He is quick and he is an out-and-out winger,” Igesund said.

“Perhaps when we get into good positions our players need to do a little bit better. And the one opportunity that I thought we should have used to score against Norway was the shot from Phala, which he missed,” said Igesund.