Johannesburg - Gordon Igesund on Monday warned several Bafana Bafana players battling their way back from injury that he will only select them for the 2013 African Nations Cup finals if they are fully fit and in form.
Igesund reeled off a list of seven names - Thulani Serero, Daylon Claasen, Siboniso Gaxa, Benni McCarthy, Davide Somma, Katlego Mphela and David Mathebula - who are still clearly on his mind, but need to prove themselves ready when Igesund names his final squad on January 9 next year, 10 days before the African Nations Cup begins.
Igesund, in annoucing his squad on Monday for the Nelson Mandela Challenge against Zambia on November 14 at the FNB Stadium, described the seven as “quality players with a race against time to get into condition.
“Serero is back in training, Claasen is back in training, Gaxa is going to start playing soon, Somma will hopefully get his first game for Leeds this weekend. Mphela is back in training and Mathebula has started playing again,” added the Bafana coach, clearly deciding there had been enough comment already on McCarthy. “These seven players are very good,” he continued.
“But the problem they have is injuries. What they have to do now is start commanding a regular place in the starting elevens of their clubs… but more important is that they are playing well. Somma, for example, might not have nearly the form he needs for Bafana and that goes for everyone else.”
The Bafana coach added that he “probably” had “75 to 80 percent” of his Nations Cup squad already in mind, and made just six changes to his squad for the Zambia game from the one named for the friendlies against Poland and Kenya last month.
The main surprises are Platinum Stars’ right-sided wizard Thuso Phala and Moroka Swallows striker Katlego Mashego, though both have been in good form for their clubs this season.
“He has done tremendously well over the last couple of weeks,” said Igesund on Mashego.
“He is scoring goals and I think he can add a lot of value… there are 10 PSL clubs represented and I am quite happy about that. It shows all the players are getting an opportunity.”
In the goalkeeping department, Igesund has decided to take a look at KV Kortrijk keeper Darren Keet, recalling him to the squad at the expense of Moeneeb Josephs and Wayne Sandilands.
“It was important for me to bring in Keet to give all the goalkeepers an opportunity,” he said.
Igesund has interestingly selected Phala as a defender, while regular right- back Anele Ngcongca earns a recall after injury. This could well mean the end of the road for Swallows defender Luvengo Mungomeni, who occupied the right-back slot against Poland.
In midfield, Igesund has recalled Thanduyise Khuboni, a regular under Carlos Alberto Parreira and Pitso Mosimane. Helsingborgs midfielder May Mahlangu, Free State Stars winger Katlego Mashego and Kaizer Chiefs’ George Lebese all miss out, also perhaps now surplus to Nations Cup requirements.
Igesund added that he would have selected Pirates midfielder Andile Jali, but he has been ruled out for three weeks with a knee injury, following the Telkom Knockout defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic.
In attack, Dino Ndlovu has dropped out, while Swallows’ Mashego and SuperSport United’s Kermit Erasmus come in.
The Bafana coach departed yesterday for a tour of Europe, meanwhile, where he plans to meet with players and their managers, in a bid to improve relations in club versus country matters.
Igesund also plans to meet with retired former captain Steven Pienaar, and with Norwich midfielder Andrew Surman, a man he still hopes to lure into the Bafana ranks.
“Steven Pienaar has been a great ambassador for South Africa, he was captain of the national team, he gave ten years of service. I owe it to him to have a cup of coffee and I am sure we will talk about why he retired,” said Igesund.
“I want to make sure I leave no stone unturned going into the first game of the Afcon.”
Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Darren Keet.
Defenders: Bongani Khumalo, Bevan Fransman, Siyabonga Sangweni, Thuso Phala, Thabo Nthethe, Punch Masenamela, Ricardo Nunes, Anele Ngcongca.
Midfielders: Oupa Manyisa, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Lerato Chabangu, Teko Modise, Delron Buckley, Sifiso Myeni, Kagiso Dikgacoi, Dean Furman, Thanduyise Khuboni.
Strikers: Bernard Parker, Katlego Mashego, Tokelo Rantie, Kermit Erasmus.
The Star