AS this year’s World Cup is approaching, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the time is getting shorter for the players to reserve places in the squads that will represent their countries in this tournament that will start in June.
The same is true of the country’s national team, Bafana Bafana, who will play two friendly matches against Panama on March 27, in Durban and on March 31 in Cape Town.
The coach, Hugo Broos, announced the squad of 37 players that he will reduce next week.
In this squad, he left five players who were present at the Afcon that wrapped up in January in Morocco, namely Siyabonga Ngezana, Bathusi Aubaas, Sipho Mbule, Shandre Campbell and Elias Mokwana.
He brought back others who have been absent from the national team for some time due to injury, lack of form and other reasons.
They include players based abroad such as Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Olwethu Makhanya who play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, Luke Le Roux who plays in England, Ime Okon who plays for the German team and others.
If these players are included in the team that will face Panama, it will be an opportunity for them to show Broos that they are ready to play in the biggest tournament in the world.
Those who were not selected have two months left to stand out in their teams and change the mind of the national team coach.
Broos has shown that he can take a player even after a while since he last appeared in Bafana as he did when he included Mokwana in the squad that played in the Afcon.
The Bafana Bafana squad that will be selected for the friendly against Panama
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Renaldo Leaner (Sekhukhune United) and Darren Johnson (AmaZulu).
Stops: Khuliso Mudau, Aubrey Modiba, Khulumani Ndamane (Mamelodi Sundowns); Deano van Rooyen, Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates); Vuyo Letlapa (Sekhukhune United); Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City); Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union); Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers); Ime Okon (Hannover 96); Double welcome (Molde FK); Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire FC).
Stomachs: Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams (Mamelodi Sundowns); Talente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates); Ndamulelo Maphangule (Polokwane City); Mthetheli Mthiyane (Stellenbosch FC); Luke Le Roux (Portsmouth FC); Shelter Sithole (CD Tondela).
Strikers: Iqraam Rayners, Themba Zwane, Prayer Lord (Mamelodi Sundowns); Oswin Appollis, Tshepang Moremi, Evidence Makgopa, Patrick Maswanganyi, Yanela Mbuthuma, Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates); Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota United FC); Lyle Foster (Burnley FC); Al Ettifaq FC – The Best Of Al Ettifaq FC.