Shakes Mashaba has demonstrated, once again, that he is his own man.In naming a provisional 34-man Bafana Bafana squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), scheduled for Equatorial Guinea from January 17 to February 8, the head coach remained true to the players he believes in.
In his selections, he wasn’t swayed by reputation, name, past form or public opinion. He picked footballers he wanted. He stayed loyal to those who had served him well over the last few months.
After a training camp and a few friendlies over the next two weeks, Mashaba will whittle the squad down to the official 23-man party that will do duty for South Africa at the continental showpiece starting next month.
As in the selection of any national squad, there will be happiness for those who made the cut, and disappointment for those who didn’t.
The biggest surprise is the omission of former Bafana captain and goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune. The Kaizer Chiefs custodian had been out injured for three months, but is currently on the bench at the Soweto club, with stand-in goalie Brilliant Khuzwayo currently playing out of his skin for the runaway Premier Soccer League (PSL) log-leaders.
A year ago, Khune was the toast of Bafana. He was the leader, the inspiration, the name on everybody’s lips. But none of this interested Mashaba.
The Bafana coach stuck with Darren Keet, the Belgium-based Capetonian goalkeeper, and Khuzwayo, adding two others in Siyabonga Mpontshane and Jackson Mabokgwane.
Mpontshane doesn’t even make the Platinum Stars starting team in the PSL, but, again, Mashaba is not too concerned about who is a regular or not. He chooses those he knows, those he rates, and doesn’t care too much if they don’t get much game time at their clubs.
The same goes for the inclusion of Vuyisile Wana (Moroka Swallows), Asavele Mbekile (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Ntsikelelo Nyauza (Orlando Pirates), who are not really regulars at their respective clubs.
Ajax Cape Town have one representative in 18-year-old central defender Rivaldo Coetzee, who has made tremendous progress this season. The teenager has proved his ability at international level, performing with aplomb during a few Afcon qualifiers, and he certainly deserves a place on the plane to the Equatorial Guinea.
The Cape side’s Keagan Dolly will probably feel a bit aggrieved. The promising 21-year-old midfielder is injured at the moment, but will be fit and ready by the time the tournament comes around.
He was part of previous Bafana squads selected by Mashaba, and he would have had high hopes of securing a spot. Unfortunately, he may end up watching the 2015 Afcon on television next year.
Chiefs, of course, have been simply magnificent this season, and still remain unbeaten in the PSL.
Such is the consistency of their players that Mashaba has included five of them – Eric Mathoho, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Mandla Masango, Bernard Parker and Khuzwayo, though the omission of Amakhosi central defender Tefu Mashamaite is a bit of a surprise.
Mashamaite performed adequately and admirably in a Bafana jersey and he can be considered very unlucky to miss out.
Other unfortunate players are SuperSport United goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who has been in top form in the PSL, and Pirates attacking duo Kermit Erasmus and Lehlohonolo Majoro.
“The bulk of the players in the squad are the ones who helped Bafana Bafana to be where it is now and we didn’t want to change much going into Afcon,” the Bafana Bafana mentor said.
“The bloated squad means we want to give everyone a chance as we don’t have guaranteed places in the team. It is an opportunity for all of them to fight hard for the final spot.
“And, for those not on the list, we can’t say for sure they are completely out as they also stand a good chance of making it. As you can see most of those on the list have been with us for the last three months or so,” he added.
South Africa kick off their 2015 Afcon Group D campaign against Algeria on Monday, January 19, followed by Senegal four days later and finishing off against Ghana on Tuesday, January 27. Group D has been dubbed the Group of Death.
SOUTH AFRICA provisional Afcon squad:
Goalkeepers: Darren Keet (KV Kortrijk, Belgium),
Brilliant Khuzwayo, (Kaizer Chiefs), Jackson Mabokgwane (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Siyabonga Mpontshane (Platinum Stars).
Defenders: Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium), Eric Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Patrick Phungwayo, Thabo Matlaba (both Orlando Pirates), Thulani Hlatshwayo, Siyabonga Nhlapho (both Wits), Kwanda Mngonyama (Maritzburg United), Mzikayise Mashaba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rivaldo Coetzee (Ajax Cape Town), Ntsikelelo Nyauza (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Andile Jali (KV Oostende, Belgium), Asavela Mbekile, Bongani Zungu (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Dean Furman (Doncaster Rovers, England), Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates), Mandla Masango (Kaizer Chiefs), Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Sibusiso Vilakazi (Wits), Thuso Phala (SuperSport United), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Jabulani Shongwe (Wits), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mondli Cele (Maritzburg United), Thamsanqa Sangweni (Chippa United), Vuyisile Wana (Moroka Swallows)
Strikers: Ayanda Patosi (Lokeren, Belgium), Bongani Ndulula (AmaZulu), Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs), David Zulu (Chippa United), Tokelo Rantie (Bournemouth, England)