Bafana Bafana on Saturday night announced a ”mixed confectionary” of local and overseas-based players for the World Cup warm-up friendly against Iceland in Reykjavik on Wednesday — but quickly ran into problems.
Charlton Athletic striker and top South African goal-scorer Shaun Bartlett, one of the 17 players initially named, immediately withdrew because of injury and Siyabonga Nomvete, who failed to turn up in Mmabatho for the Cosafa Cup game against Zambia on Saturday, was rated a doubtful starter.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter is trying before next month’s vital World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso to fuse his regular front-line players such as Hans Vonk, captain Aaron Mokoena, Steven Pienaar, Benni McCarthy and Delron Buckley with newcomers who recently made an impact in the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament in the United States.
And, in this respect, a conspicuous inclusion is 2m-tall Lungisani Ndlela, who might find himself part of a striking tandem of contrasts with the tricky Benni McCarthy.
Other relative newcomers to major international soccer are Kaizer Chiefs defender Bevan Fransman, Orlando Pirates fullback Lucky Lekgwathi and Supersport United utility defender Phil Evans, but a surprise of sorts is the preference of Rowen Fernandez as reserve goalkeeper ahead of Calvin Marlin.
Players who were not considered for the squad because of injuries are Manchester United’s Quinton Fortune, German-based Bradley Carnell and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Thabiso Rammile. — Sapa
Provisional Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Hans Vonk and Rowen Fernandez.
Defenders: Lucky Lekgwathi, Aaron Mokoena, Nasief Morris, Bevan Fransman and Ricardo Katza.
Midfielders: Subusiso Zuma, Steven Pienaar, Benedict Vilakazi, Delron Buckley, Phil Evans and Elrio van Heerden.
Strikers: Benni McCarthy, Shaun Bartlett (injured), Siyabonga Nomvete and Lungisani Ndlela.