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Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba was in a bullish mood when he announced the squad to take on Cameroon in a 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in a fortnight’s time.
He angrily tried to justify his selection criteria, which have come under scrutiny since he took over the national team. The coach believes he has been unfairly criticised – though his latest team selection defies logic, given the unfit, recently recovered or inexperienced state of some players.
He said current form did not count for him, as he chose players he knew had big match temperament.
But his selection of Bidvest Wits left back Sifiso Hlanti, and the Mamelodi Sundowns pair Asavela Mbekile and Hlompho Kekana, shows that he went for form, as the trio have been excellent at their clubs.
“I am not going to overlook players because their club coaches don’t play them. If I know what they can do, I will select them,” said Mashaba.
Goalkeepers:
Mashaba disregarded the fact that two of his selected goalkeepers have been inactive. He overlooked those playing regularly at their clubs – Reyaad Pieterse, Brighton Mhlongo and Ronwen Williams – and went for the tried and tested, despite their limited time on the field. Only Darren Keet, who last played for Bafana against Algeria at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, has been a regular feature at his Belgian side, KV Kortrijk.
Itumeleng Khune only returned to action on Wednesday against Platinum Stars, having last played on January 30, while Jackson Mabokgwane last saw action when Bafana played Angola in World Cup qualifiers in November.
Defenders:
Mashaba has been consistent with his selection of the defence. He even had the luxury of calling up three uncapped defenders – Mbekile, Jomo Cosmos’ Cheslyn Jampies and Hlanti – to add to his regulars. They are Siyabonga Nhlapo, Anele Ngcongca, Thabo Matlaba, Eric Mathoho, Rivaldo Coetzee and Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Midfielders:
It was not surprising that out-of-form former captain Dean Furman was dropped. He has not played well at SuperSport United for some time. But his big-match temperament should have counted for him if Mashaba was using that as a criterion.
The other missing midfielder is Bongani Zungu, who is still recovering from a shin injury sustained in January. Kekana has been rewarded for his good showing for the Brazilians. A surprise inclusion is Chiefs winger William Twala, who is still trying to find his footing at Amakhosi.
Strikers:
The selection of Prince Nxumalo, who has scored goals for Ajax Cape Town, was expected. He is second on the scoring charts, with 11 goals. But Mashaba is expected to stick with out-of-sorts Bucs striker Thamsanqa Gabuza and the misfiring Tokelo Rantie, who has been left out of the AFC Bournemouth squad for the rest of the English Premier League season.
Dino Ndlovu, who plays for Anorthosis Famagusta in Cyprus, will be hoping to continue with his scoring form if given a chance.
