Leeds United striker Davide Somma is not expected to provide the answer to the national soccer team's lack of goalscoring ability, Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane said on Monday.
The 25-year-old Somma, who recently signed a three-year contract with the Elland Road-based outfit, has been named in the Bafana squad to play the United States in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in Cape Town on Wednesday.
“The selection of Somma is part of my effort to increase the pool of players available to the national squad,” said Mosimane.
He took over as coach from Carlos Alberto Parreira in July.
“I don't expect him to sort out my problems, but this will be a chance for him,” said Mosimane.
“He's a good player, and has been scoring goals for Leeds. He's got a good body, a good mind and his movement off the ball is good.”
Somma is of Italian heritage and was born on the East Rand, in Gauteng.
He emigrated to the US in childhood and played soccer in the US and Spain. Later, he played for several clubs in Italy before returning to the US for a stint in the Major Soccer League.
In 2009, he made his way to England where, after a series of trials, he ended up at Leeds and became the fifth South African-born player to sign a contract with Leeds.
The others are Gerry Francis, Albert Johanneson, Lucas Radebe and Phil Masinga.
Mosimane said he had sent video recordings of Bafana's recent matches to Somma so the striker could familiarise himself with the team's style of playing.
“I arranged with our IT staff to send him clips of our recent matches and I'll work around the clock to make him aware of how the national team plays,” said Mosimane.
“It will give him an idea of how we are playing and it's our job as coaches to help players.
“I'm not looking for a goal from him, just a good introduction to the national team.”
By midday on Monday, 17 players in the 23-man squad had arrived in Cape Town. Mosimane expected a full complement by Tuesday morning, when Bevan Fransman, of Hapoel Tel Aviv, was expected to arrive.
“There is one and half days to prepare for the match, but that should not stop us from playing our normal game, a game that people will like,” said Mosimane.
“This is a Fifa-sanctioned game and we respect it as such, as well as respect our former president.
“This game has a bearing on our (world) rankings and we are playing the USA.
“They are not just anybody, but rather a team with good strategy and good tactical discipline.”
The US squad arrived in Cape Town on Sunday and had a workout in a local gym on Monday morning. They will have a training session at the Cape Town stadium, in Green Point, later on Monday. – Sapa