The Bafana Bafana squad for their crucial 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifier match against the Cape Verde Islands was announced on Wednesday.
The fixture will take place on June 4 in Praia.
Bafana, who top the group-two log table, will be hoping to maintain their number-one spot against the second-placed Cape Verde Islands.
”Since we started our qualifying campaign against Cape Verde last year, we have followed the principle of taking one game at a time and making sure that we do our best under the circumstances we have found ourselves,” said Bafana coach Stuart Baxter.
”We are not going to change that in this match. We are going to Praia to face a country that is brimming with confidence after their first away win in Burkina Faso this year.
”That win has placed Cape Verde within striking distance of topping the group if we falter in any way.”
Baxter said their opponents have a very strong team and remain unbeaten on home soil in all qualifying matches.
”We are determined to become the first team in these qualifiers to conquer them at home or at least come back with a point,” stressed Baxter.
”We have selected a group of 19 players that will go into camp on Saturday to prepare for this important match,” added Baxter.
”We have selected a bigger pool to give players an opportunity to convince us they are ready and willing to fight for the required points in Cape Verde. With Shaun Bartlett, Quinton Fortune, Cyril Nzama and Matthew Booth out of the squad through injury, we are contemplating changing a few things tactically.”
Bafana Bafana will report for duty on Saturday and travel down to Durban, where the team will be based until next Wednesday. The squad fly out on Thursday to Cape Verde. — Sapa
Bafana squad
Goalkeepers: Hans Vonk, Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands); Calvin Marlin, Supersport United (South Africa).
Defenders: Nasief Morris, Panathinaikos (Greece); Aaron Mokoena, Blackburn Rovers (England); Thabiso Rammile, Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa); Siboniso Pa Gaxa, Supersport United (South Africa); Mbulelo Mabizela, VÃ¥lerenga IF (Norway); Lucky Lekgwathi, Orlando Pirates (South Africa); Ricardo Katza Supersport United (South Africa).
Midfielders: Steven Pienaar, Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands); Sibusiso Zuma, FC Copenhagen (Denmark); Delron Buckley, Borussia Dortmund (Germany); Benedict Vilakazi, Orlando Pirates FC (South Africa); Elrio van Heerden, FC Copenhagen (Denmark); Benson Mhlongo, Wits University (South Africa); Arthur Zwane, Kaizer Chiefs (South Africa),
Strikers: Lerato Chabangu, Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa); Benedict McCarthy, FC Porto (Portugal); Katlego Mphela, RC Strasbourg (France).