Bafana Bafana caretaker coach Styles Phumo has named a powerful squad comprising mainly of overseas-based players to play in a friendly international against Australia at London’s Loftus Road on March 30.
Prior to the announcement of the 18-man squad, South African Football Association (Safa) chief executive officer, Albert Mokoena indicated that the committee tasked with the job of naming a new head coach to replace Shakes Mashaba who was fired in January is expected to finalise the name of the new head coach next Tuesday.
”We are hoping to finalise the new Bafana coach by next Tuesday,” Mokoena said.
Phumo has included previously disgruntled players such as the country’s leading goal scorer Shaun Bartlett of English Premiership outfit Charlton Athletic, World Cup striker George Koumantarakis who plays in England for Preston North End, Heerenveen goalkeeper Hans Vonk, German based wing back Bradley Carnell and Ajax Amsterdam midfielder Steven Pienaar are all included in the squad.
Mokoena said that three other overseas bases stars, Benni McCarthy who plays for Portuguese giants Porto, Manchester United’s Quinton Fortune and Charlton defender Mark Fish had been invited as Safa guests for the match which will be played at the home of Queen’s Park Rangers.
Both Fish and Fortune, who had difficulties with Mashaba, had agreed to play had they not been injured but Mokoena said that McCarthy was still officially retired from international soccer.
”McCarthy is waiting to see who the new coach is. But the fact he has accepted our invitation to attend the game means that there is hope that he will be available for our 2006 World Cup qualifiers which start in June,” Mokoena said.
The issue of who will captain the side will be made when the squad assembles in London on March 28. Phumo refused to discuss the future of Tottenham Hotspur defender Mbulelo Mabizela who captained the side at the recent African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.
Mbulelo came under criticism by the Safa delegates at for being mercenary in regards to payment for his services.
Two local based players have been included in the squad. They are Orlando Pirates midfield wizard Benedict Vilakazi and Wits University defender Neil Winstanley.
The friendly will be Bafana’s final warm up before the start of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers which kick-off in the first weekend of June. Sapa
The squad
Goalkeepers: Hans Vonk (Heerenveen, Holland), Emille Baron (Lillestrom, Norway).
Defenders: Mbulelo Mabizela (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Thabang Molefe (Le Mans, France), Bradley Carnell (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Aaron Mokoena (Genk, Belgium), Neil Winstanley (Wits)
Midfielders: Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Japhet Zwane Rostov FC, Russia), Lance Davids (1860 Munich, Germany), Bennett Mnguni (Rostov, Russia), Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Benedict Vilakazi (Orlando Pirates)
Strikers: George Koumantarakis (Preston North End, England), Siyabonga Nomvete (Salernitana, Italy) and Shaun Bartlett Charlton Athletic, England)