South Africa Football Team Coach Molefi Ntseki Announces Bafana Bafana Squad for Upcoming International Matches.
Bafana Bafana coach Ntseki on this Friday, October 2, 2020, revealed the team’s squad for the upcoming International matches against Brave Warriors of Namibia and Chipolopolo of Zambia at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
In preparation for the Africa Cup of Nation Qualifiers scheduled for November, South Africa coach Molefi Ntseki has named a 25-man squad to play preparatory games against Namibia on October 8 and on October 11 against Zambia, both games at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The list, released by coach Ntseki, did not feature regular players such as Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, defender Eric Mathoho, left-back Thabo Matlaba and George Maluleka, all of whom are local-based players and had been called up to the squad to face Sao Tome in March 2020 but the match could not be played due to COVID 19.
However, players like Thibang Phete 26, Ricardo Goss 26, Kurt Abrahams 23, were handed their first call-ups in Bafana Bafana. Surprisingly 31-year-old Golden Arrows defender, Gladwin Shitolo has been handed his first national team call-up too.
Bafana Bafana is preparing the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sao Tome in November. While the Brave Warriors of Namibia will play against Mali in the same format.
The Zambia head coach, Milutin Sredojevic has opted to use local players for the friendly matches against South Africa and Malawi on October 7, as Zambia is preparing for the African Nations Championship scheduled in January 2021. Zambia that does not stand well in the AFCON Qualifiers Group H. They have a double fixture against Botswana in November.
BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Darren Keet (Oud-Haverlee Leuven FC (Belgium), Ronwen Williams (Supersport United), Ricardo Goss (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Thibang Phete (OS Belenenses SAD (Portugal), Motjeka Madisha (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thulani Hlatshwayo (Orlando Pirates), S’fiso Hlanti, Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Abubaker Mobara (Cape Town City), Reeve Frosler (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Andile Jali (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thabo Nodada (Cape Town City), Teboho Mokoena (Supersport United), Gladwin Shitolo (Golden Arrows), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier, France), Percy Tau (RSC Anderlecht, Belgium), Thabiso Kutumela (Maritzburg United), Sipho Mbule (Supersport United), Luther Singh (Braga FC, Portugal)
Strikers: Kermit Erasmus (Cape Town City), Kurt Abrahams (KVC Westerlo, Belgium), Lebohang Manyama (Kaizer Chiefs).
Coach: Molefi Ntseki
