Ephriam “Shakes” Mashaba intends to take the fight to Senegal after naming Dutch-born striker Lars Veldwijk to the Bafana Bafana squad to face the West Africans in a crunch 2018 World Cup qualifier next month.
The Bafana coach gave Dutch-born striker Lars Veldwijk a surprise call-up in the strongest indication that he will be gunning for all the points at Peter Mokaba in Polokwane.
The 25-year-old Veldwijk is eligible to play for Bafana through his father‚ who was born in South Africa‚ and looks set to make a maiden appearance against the Senegalese – who lead Group D and are favourites to win it.
Mashaba said he has been monitoring the player for a long time and he believes this is the best time to call him up to Bafana for the first time.
‘‘We have been monitoring Lars since his days with English Championship side Nottingham Forest‚” said Mashaba.
‘‘He has moved to Belgium now. He’s a good striker‚ a big boy‚ very busy in the box‚ can hold the ball and can score as well. So we felt we needed to bring him in this camp.”
Daine Klate‚ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams‚ defender Asavela Mbekile‚ Thuso Phala and Bradley Grobler were the other surprise inclusions in the squad.
Mashaba said Klate will be given the role of creating chances if he is selected.
The star-studded Senegal are viewed as favourites in SA’s World Cup qualifying group and Mashaba admitted yesterday that Bafana would have their work cut out for them against the visitors.
Bafana have at times struggled to convert the many opportunities they create in games and it is hoped that Veldwijk‚ who recently joined Belgian top-flight side Kortrijk‚ could solve the problem.
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie is not off the hook yet after it emerged yesterday that the South African Football Association (Safa) is pushing ahead with plans to discipline him.
Safa officials are still not amused that Rantie failed to honour a call-up to the Bafana squad that played a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso and a friendly international against Ghana early this month.
Rantie‚ who moved from English club AFC Bournemouth to Turkish side Genclerbirligi in August‚ travelled to SA on a Safa plane ticket but instead of joining his team-mates in camp as he was expected to‚ he switched off his phone after he landed at OR Tambo International Airport and went home to Parys‚ Free State.
In one of the most bizarre incidences in the national team‚ Rantie spent several days playing hide and seek with Bafana team manager Barney Kujane until Mashaba cut his losses and departed for Ouagadougou‚ Burkina Faso‚ without him.
Rantie’s name was a glaring omission from the Bafana squad Mashaba announced yesterday to face Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on November 12.
Kujane revealed yesterday that the Rantie matter remains very serious.
‘‘As you are all aware‚ we have reported Tokelo Rantie’s case to the association ‚” he said.
‘‘Documentations have been submitted in terms of reports to the association and the association is now dealing with this matter. You will be informed in due course as far as when the sitting of the disciplinary committee and the charging will take place.”
Bafana are two points behind Senegal and Mashaba said he intends to take the fight to the West Africans to close the gap.
Bafana Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Brighton Mhlongo, Ronwen Williams
Defenders: Tebogo Langerman, Asavela Mbekile, Erick Mathoho, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Rivaldo Coetzee, Clayton Daniels, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba
Midfielders: Keagan Dolly, Hlompho Kekana, Dean Furman, Andile Jali, Daine Klate, May Mahlangu, Mpho Makola, Ayanda Patosi
Strikers: Bradley Grobler, Thuso Phala, Eleazar Rodgers, Thulani Serero, Lars Veldwijk, Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Shakes goes Dutch to beef up Bafana attack
The Bafana coach gave Dutch-born striker Lars Veldwijk a surprise call-up in the strongest indication that he will be gunning for all the points at Peter Mokaba in Polokwane.
The 25-year-old Veldwijk is eligible to play for Bafana through his father‚ who was born in South Africa‚ and looks set to make a maiden appearance against the Senegalese – who lead Group D and are favourites to win it.
Mashaba said he has been monitoring the player for a long time and he believes this is the best time to call him up to Bafana for the first time.
‘‘We have been monitoring Lars since his days with English Championship side Nottingham Forest‚” said Mashaba.
‘‘He has moved to Belgium now. He’s a good striker‚ a big boy‚ very busy in the box‚ can hold the ball and can score as well. So we felt we needed to bring him in this camp.”
Daine Klate‚ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams‚ defender Asavela Mbekile‚ Thuso Phala and Bradley Grobler were the other surprise inclusions in the squad.
Mashaba said Klate will be given the role of creating chances if he is selected.
The star-studded Senegal are viewed as favourites in SA’s World Cup qualifying group and Mashaba admitted yesterday that Bafana would have their work cut out for them against the visitors.
Bafana have at times struggled to convert the many opportunities they create in games and it is hoped that Veldwijk‚ who recently joined Belgian top-flight side Kortrijk‚ could solve the problem.
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana striker Tokelo Rantie is not off the hook yet after it emerged yesterday that the South African Football Association (Safa) is pushing ahead with plans to discipline him.
Safa officials are still not amused that Rantie failed to honour a call-up to the Bafana squad that played a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso and a friendly international against Ghana early this month.
Rantie‚ who moved from English club AFC Bournemouth to Turkish side Genclerbirligi in August‚ travelled to SA on a Safa plane ticket but instead of joining his team-mates in camp as he was expected to‚ he switched off his phone after he landed at OR Tambo International Airport and went home to Parys‚ Free State.
In one of the most bizarre incidences in the national team‚ Rantie spent several days playing hide and seek with Bafana team manager Barney Kujane until Mashaba cut his losses and departed for Ouagadougou‚ Burkina Faso‚ without him.
Rantie’s name was a glaring omission from the Bafana squad Mashaba announced yesterday to face Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier on November 12.
Kujane revealed yesterday that the Rantie matter remains very serious.
‘‘As you are all aware‚ we have reported Tokelo Rantie’s case to the association ‚” he said.
‘‘Documentations have been submitted in terms of reports to the association and the association is now dealing with this matter. You will be informed in due course as far as when the sitting of the disciplinary committee and the charging will take place.”
Bafana are two points behind Senegal and Mashaba said he intends to take the fight to the West Africans to close the gap.
Bafana Bafana squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Brighton Mhlongo, Ronwen Williams
Defenders: Tebogo Langerman, Asavela Mbekile, Erick Mathoho, Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Rivaldo Coetzee, Clayton Daniels, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabo Matlaba
Midfielders: Keagan Dolly, Hlompho Kekana, Dean Furman, Andile Jali, Daine Klate, May Mahlangu, Mpho Makola, Ayanda Patosi
Strikers: Bradley Grobler, Thuso Phala, Eleazar Rodgers, Thulani Serero, Lars Veldwijk, Sibusiso Vilakazi.
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