Kaizer Chiefs snubbed Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained his decision behind not electing a single Kaizer Chiefs player for upcoming international friendlies. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained the reasoning behind his decision to not select a single player from Kaizer Chiefs for their upcoming friendlies.
Broos named his squad on Thursday, and it featured nine players from Orlando Pirates, including Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota, Simphiwe Selepe and Deano Van Rooyen who received their first call-ups.
Despite no player from Mamelodi Sundowns being selected due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup next month, Broos couldn’t find a space in his team for Yusuf Maart, Bruce Bvuma and Mduduzi Shabalala, who were in the preliminary squad.
Explaining his decision, Broos acknowledged that Chiefs’ poor Betway Premiership campaign contributed to the decision. For a second season in a row, the mighty Amakhosi finished outside of the top 8.
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“For me, for the moment I can’t select players of Kaizer Chiefs,” Broos told journalists on Thursday afternoon.
“And I hope that they make a better season next year. Ok, they’ve won the Cup, but I think that was the only highlight in Chiefs’ season. All the rest was not so good… the supporters are very happy because they won the Cup, but we have to be honest and I don’t have anything against Chiefs, but I have to be honest in my choices.
“And most of the time it was not good with Chiefs. Otherwise a team like Chiefs is not number nine in the log, they are number three, number two or number one.”
Broos' men will play Tanzania at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on June 6, and Mozambique at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane four days later.
Bafana Bafana squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Renaldo Leaner (Sekhukhune United).
Defenders: Khulumani Ndamane (TS Galaxy), Nyiko Mobbie (SuperSport United), Thabo Moloisane (Stellenbosch FC), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates), Deano Van Rooyen (Orlando Pirates), Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK), Fawaaz Basadien (Stellenbosch FC).
Midfielders: Simphiwe Selepe (Orlando Pirates), Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Ndamulelo Maphangule (Polokwane City FC), Luke Le Roux (Allsvenskan).
Forwards: Yanela Mbuthuma (Richards Bay FC), Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates), Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City FC), Mohau Nkota (Orlando Pirates), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Tshepang Moremi (AmaZulu FC), Sinoxolo Kwayiba (Chippa United), and Ashley Cupido (Stellenbosch FC).
IOL Sport