Bafana Bafana interim coach Pitso Mosimane has named no less than six players from the champions-in-waiting, Mamelodi Sundowns, in the national team for the forthcoming Cosafa Cup in Gaborone, Botswana.
Four of the players, defender Benson Mhlongo, and midfielders Josta Dladla, Surprise Moriri and defender Vuyo Mere, are new to the squad that played against Lesotho on Wednesday night.
While the six Sundowns players selected eased Mosimane’s selection woes for his 22-man squad, Mosimane would have preferred to bolster his squad with players from Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will face off against each other in the Absa Cup final in Durban on Saturday, the same day Bafana take on Swaziland in their first match of the tournament.
”This is a good team and I have selected most of the players here based on their form this season. As everybody knows, I could obviously not select players from Chiefs or Pirates as they will be involved in that final,” said Mosimane.
Mosimane was quick to quash any suggestions that the international-based players did not avail themselves for the squad, rather opting to give opportunities to the South African-based players.
”I had to select this team based on the vision of this tournament. But also, I chose some of the players in this side with a long-, mid- and short-term vision for the national team in mind. I could have spoken to some of the guys overseas to come back and win games for me but what good will that be for the country in four years’ time?
”I am thinking ahead. I took into consideration guys who had played well at the Gold Cup last year, some of the guys from the African Cup of Nations and obviously had the 2010 World Cup in mind as well,” said Mosimane.
And while Mosimane contemplates coaching Bafana into winning ways after their shock goalless draw against Lesotho, he faces another hurdle, with the fitness of his captain Aaron Mokoena, who is reportedly suffering from a dead leg.
”I’ve had little time with the players but a lot of positives came out of our trip to Lesotho. I am taking those positives and concentrating on building on them. With regard to Aaron, his team released him to be inspected by our medical team,” Mosimane said.
While winning is a culture that Mosimane would love to inculcate into his hastily assembled squad, the aim of the Cosafa tournament for Mosimane and his charges will be the long, winding road to Afcon 2008 in Ghana and ultimately World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
”I want when the big boss — next coach — comes, there must be a crop of 30 or so local-based players who can easily slot into the national team for the World Cup, that’s all,” Mosimane said. — Sapa
SA Squad
Goalkeepers: Calvin Marlin, Moeneeb Josephs.
Defenders: Benson Mhlongo, Aaron Mokoena, David Kannemeyer, George Mofokeng, Siboniso Gaxa, Vuyo Mere, Ricardo Katza, Joseph Henyekane.
Midfielders: Maimane Phiri, Elrio van Heerden, Lefa Tsutsulupa,Siyabonga Nkosi, Dillon Sheppard, Surprise Moriri, Simphiwe Tshabalala, Josta Dladla.
Strikers: Alton Meiring, Lungisani Ndlela, Abram Raselemane, Lebohang Kukame.