Bafana Bafana head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira announced a 22-man squad to play Namibia’s Brave Warriors in an international friendly in Durban next Wednesday. The side consists mostly of local based players in the South African Premier Soccer League, while South Africa’s top foreign-based players have not been called up to the squad.
Some of the top professionals who are missing include their all-time leading goalscorer Benny McCarthy who joined West Ham United this month and has scored 35 goals in 83 appearances for Bafana Bafana.
Their creative midfielder Steven Pienaar who plays for Everton is also missing, as is Aaron Mokoena of Portsmouth, who holds a record 99 caps for Bafana.
Some of their top local players who were not called up include Mamelodi Sundowns defender Matthew Booth, who has won 26 caps and Platinum Stars defender Mbulelo Mabizela, who has won 45 caps.
The team to face Namibia however still includes numerous experienced internationals in the likes of Orlando Pirates midfielder Teko Modise, who has scored 9 goals in 43 internationals; Shiphiwe Tshabalala of Kaizer Chiefs, who has scored 4 goals in 39 internationals; and striker Katlego Mohela of Sundowns, who has scored 8 goals in 24 internationals.
Some of the new players called up by Parreira include Golden Arrows defenders Siyabonga Sangweni and Mzuvukile Tom; Bloemfontein Celtic midfielder Tlou Segolela and Ajax Cape Town attacking midfielder Thulani Serero.
The squad includes three players from SuperSport United, who won the PSL title for the third consecutive year on Wednesday night. There are also three players each from Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows.
The Bafana Bafana squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Emille Baron (SuperSport United)
Defenders:
Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium), Siyabonga Sangweni, Mzuvukile Tom (both Golden Arrows), Siyanda Xulu (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bradley Carnell (FC Hansa Rostock, Germany), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Bryce Moon (PAOK, Greece).
Midfielders:
Tlou Segolela (Bloemfontein Celtic), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Daine Klate (SuperSport United), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Chiefs), Andile Jali, Teko Modise (both Orlando Pirates), Lebohang Mokoena (Sundowns).
Strikers:
Katlego Mphela (Sundowns) and Thulani Serero (Ajax Cape Town)