FRIDAY, 12.30PM:
BAFANA Bafana coach Clive Barker has included five new uncapped players in the squad to play France in Lens on October 11. The new players are defenders Willem Jackson (Orlando Pirates) and Pierre Issa (Olympic Marseilles), midfielders Brian “Baby Jake” Sebapole and Alex “Barnes” Bapela (Sundowns), and striker Simon Makhubela (Manning Rangers).
The five come in at the expense of midfielder Thomas Madigage (Supersport United), strikers Pollen Ndlanya, who plies his trade in Turkey, and Austrian-based Brendon Augustine.
Injured defender Andrew Rabutla and midfielder Linda Buthelezi were not considered as they are still nursing injuries.
Barker said Ajax Amsterdam’s sensational goalpoacher Benedict McCarthy, who made a brief appearance in the game against Holland on June 4, will join the squad in France after playing for the South African Under-23 side against Norway on October 8.
THE SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS:
Mark Anderson (Bush Bucks), Andre Arendse (Fulham, Eng), Brian Baloyi (Kaizer Chiefs).
DEFENDERS:
Mark Fish (Bolton Wanderers, Eng), Willem Jackson (Orlando Pirates), Sizwe Motaung (Tenerife, Spain), Lucas Radebe (Leeds United, Eng), Isaac Shai (Sundowns), Neil Tovey (Kaizer Chiefs), Pierre Issa (Olympique Marseilles, France).
MIDFIELDERS:
Alex Bapela (Sundowns), Doctor Khumalo (Columbus Crew, USA), Clinton Larsen (Manning Rangers), Helman Mkhalele (Gaziantepsor, Turkey), John Moeti (Orlando Pirates), John Moshoeu (Kocaelispor, Turkey), Dumisa Ngobe (Orlando Pirates), Brian Sebapole (Jomo Cosmos), Eric Tinkler (Cagliari, Italy).
STRIKERS:
Shaun Bartlett (New York Metrostars, USA), Simon Makhubela (Manning Rangers), Phil Masinga (Bari, Italy), Mark Williams (Kaizer Chiefs), Benedict McCarthy (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands).