Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has announced his squad to play friendly internationals against Sierra Leone and Botswana in South Africa in the coming days.
After snubbing him since taking over as Bafana coach amid calls for his return, Broos has finally included Mamelodi Sundowns forward Themba Zwane to his his squad. There is, however, still no space for Zwane’s Sundowns teammate Andile Jali in Broos team.
“Only fools don’t change their mind. I said a lot of things about Zwane and certainly that he was too old. I confirm it, I came here and I tried to have a young team and I tried younger players,” said Broos during teh squad announcement at SABC Sport studios on Thursday.
“Every time there was ‘Zwane, Zwane, Zwane’ and I said ‘yes, but he is 32 years old, so this guy will be 35 if we qualify for AFCON’. But when I see Zwane play I see a guy that maybe we can need and we can use. He is an intelligent player, he can score and he’s doing great performances with his team,” added
On Jali’s exclusion, Broos said: “If you talk about Andile Jali, I think no.”
“Yes, but again when I said what I said three quarters now ago, I don’t want to disrespect the nation again.”
Broos’ charges will play Sierra Leone on September 24 and Botswana on September 27, with both matches taking place at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg and kicking off at 3pm.
The Belgian coach said he hopes the South African senior national team gets back to winning ways after a 1-2 defeat to Morocco in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group K match in June, and a 0-5 setback to world champions France in a friendly international at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille in March.
“We start again and it is an opportunity to try and win games,” he said.
Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Veli Mothwa, Melusi Buthelezi
Defenders: Nyiko Mobbie, Khuliso Mudau, Terrence Mashego, Innocent Maela, Rushine De Reuck, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Thibang Phete, Aubrey Modiba
Midfielders: Goodman Mosele, Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Teboho Mokoena, Sphephelo Sithole, Luke Le Roux
Forwards: Khanyisa Mayo, Lyle Foster, Mihlali Mayambela, Pule Mmodi, Themba Zwane, Zakhele Lepasa, Kgaoegelo Sekgota
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