Coach Hugo Broos says it has been an eye-opening experience to watch local games as he pondered the make-up of the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming Afcon qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan.
Before officially announcing the squad yesterday, Broos said he had been to several matches in the past few weeks.
It was clear that some players he was considering had not enjoyed much playing time and therefore could not be selected.
Broos has also been monitoring players abroad. One of them was Percy Tau, a surprise omission from the squad named yesterday to take on Uganda at Orlando Stadium on September 6, and South Sudan away on September 10.
Broos is aware that Tau, once the poster boy of South African football, has hardly been playing and will therefore not be fully match fit for the qualifiers starting next week.
“The situation at (Tau’s club) Al Ahly, for the moment, is unclear. There are a lot of rumours, such as he’s going to leave; there’s a problem with the transfer fee; he doesn’t want to play there anymore,” said Broos.
“Since the beginning of August, he just played 17 minutes, and in all the other games, he was not even on the substitutes bench.
“His situation is not good, and I was afraid of all those developments. At this moment, Percy is not ready.
“We need the players who are ready, not only physically, but also mentally. Those two games, the first games of qualifiers are very important. You can’t make a mistake.
“Now you have to win those two games, and that’s the reason why I decided not to take Percy for those two games.”
According to Broos, Tau is copping unnecessary flak when fans feel he is not pulling his weight for the national after attracting rave reviews for his Al Ahly performances.
“Percy received a lot of criticism when he played for Bafana Bafana. I have tried to protect him and support him for the game against Algeria (last March), and that’s why he was not there.
“But then you see after the game against Nigeria (in June), it was again the same thing. They (the fans) don’t like him for the moment, and they expect too much about him.
Bafana Bafana squad for their 2 upcoming AFCON qualifier matches against
🇺🇬 6 September 2024 at Orlando Stadium at 18h00
🇸🇸10 September 2024 (away) at 15h00 @SAFA_net @10bet_ZA @flysaa @CastleLagerSA pic.twitter.com/GWka4BwHYF
“I had contact with him, and he said, ‘Yes’ (to play), but I told (him) if somebody tells me that it doesn’t affect him, he’s lying. I know that it affects you because you love your country, and you want to play.”
With Tau out in the cold, Broos will look to Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis, Patrick Maswanganyi, Iqraam Rayners, Elias Mokwana, Relebogile Mofokeng and Lyle Foster to lead the side’s attack.
The new caps in the squad are Sipho Chaine, Fawaaz Basadien, Thalente Mbatha, and Rushwin Dortley, who has featured in the Cosafa side.
Broos has seen Basadien in action recently and was pleased the defender has already played three matches this season.
Bafana Bafana Squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Nyiko Mobbie (SuperSport United), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rushwin Dortley (Kaizer Chiefs), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Sundowns), Khuliso Mudau (Sundowns), Fawaaz Basadien (Stellenbosch FC), Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania), Grant Kekana (Sundowns)
Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena (Sundowns), Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch FC), Sphephelo Sithole (Gil Vicente, Portugal), Thalente Mbatha (Pirates)
Strikers: Themba Zwane (Sundowns), Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City), Patrick Maswanganyi (Pirates), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC), Elias Mokwana (Esperance, Tunisia), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Relebogile Mofokeng (Pirates)