GORDON Igesund yesterday named an ideal team for the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament here in January.
However, the Bafana coach might only get to work with this 24-man squad when they face Swaziland next Friday as he is yet to know whether they will be available for the competition.
The SA Football Association (Safa) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) are still negotiating the release of players for the tournament known as Chan. As it is not a Fifa-designated tournament, clubs are not obliged to release players for it.
Igesund confirmed that Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble was in talks with the PSL, discussions that have been ongoing since late June.
The coach has called up a strong local-based team, including nine Orlando Pirates players – with eight of them having helped the club to the Caf Champions League final against Egypt’s Al Ahly.
The Chan competition, meant only for players in the domestic league, takes place in South Africa from January 11 to February 1 and the PSL has scheduled matches during the knockout stages of the tournament.
“I’ve got to pick the team regardless of what is happening. I have to show that it is important that our best players get together and prepare for this tournament because we take it very seriously,” said Igesund yesterday.
“In this country, we always say we have the best league in the continent. Now it is time to prove it in the Chan, but only if we have our best players. The team I have picked to play Swaziland is, in my opinion, the best at the moment.”
Four days after the friendly in Swaziland, Bafana will host world and European champions Spain at FNB stadium. Igesund said he would announce the squad for that match on Thursday.
It’s a juggling act for the coach, who will name a different team to face Spain by recalling the overseas contingent.
Asked for his thoughts on Pirates’ Champions League campaign and the nine players he has picked from the Buccaneers, Igesund has warm words for Senzo Meyiwa, Rooi Mahamutsa, Thabo Matlaba, Happy Jele, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Daine Klate and Lennox Bacela.
Kermit Erasmus is the only player from Pirates in the Bafana squad who has not been part of Caf competition because he is ineligible.
“They have been fantastic in the Champions League and deserve to have gone this far. I am also excited to finally be able to work with their players because for a while now I have been unable to use them as the association agreed to allow them to concentrate on the Champions League.
“Look at the names and tell me which player from Pirates doesn’t deserve to be in my squad. Rooi plays like a teenager and is for me the best player in our league at the moment and is the right kind of player for this tournament. Unfortunately at 32 you can’t pick him when you build for the future,” said Igesund. Bafana squad: Goalkeepers: Senzo Meyiwa, Ronwen Williams Defenders: Thabo Nthethe, Tshepo Gumede, Tefu Mashamaite, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Rooi Mahamutsa, Tsepo Masilela, Thabo Matlaba, Happy Jele
Midfielders: Andile Jali, Hlompho Kekana, Oupa Manyisa, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bongani Zungu, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Lerato Chabangu, Daine Klate, Thuso Phala, Siphiwe Tshabalala
Strikers: Lennox Bacela, Bernard Parker, Kermit Erasmus, Edward Manqele
Igesund pulls in best of Bucs for Bafana
However, the Bafana coach might only get to work with this 24-man squad when they face Swaziland next Friday as he is yet to know whether they will be available for the competition.
The SA Football Association (Safa) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) are still negotiating the release of players for the tournament known as Chan. As it is not a Fifa-designated tournament, clubs are not obliged to release players for it.
Igesund confirmed that Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble was in talks with the PSL, discussions that have been ongoing since late June.
The coach has called up a strong local-based team, including nine Orlando Pirates players – with eight of them having helped the club to the Caf Champions League final against Egypt’s Al Ahly.
The Chan competition, meant only for players in the domestic league, takes place in South Africa from January 11 to February 1 and the PSL has scheduled matches during the knockout stages of the tournament.
“I’ve got to pick the team regardless of what is happening. I have to show that it is important that our best players get together and prepare for this tournament because we take it very seriously,” said Igesund yesterday.
“In this country, we always say we have the best league in the continent. Now it is time to prove it in the Chan, but only if we have our best players. The team I have picked to play Swaziland is, in my opinion, the best at the moment.”
Four days after the friendly in Swaziland, Bafana will host world and European champions Spain at FNB stadium. Igesund said he would announce the squad for that match on Thursday.
It’s a juggling act for the coach, who will name a different team to face Spain by recalling the overseas contingent.
Asked for his thoughts on Pirates’ Champions League campaign and the nine players he has picked from the Buccaneers, Igesund has warm words for Senzo Meyiwa, Rooi Mahamutsa, Thabo Matlaba, Happy Jele, Andile Jali, Oupa Manyisa, Daine Klate and Lennox Bacela.
Kermit Erasmus is the only player from Pirates in the Bafana squad who has not been part of Caf competition because he is ineligible.
“They have been fantastic in the Champions League and deserve to have gone this far. I am also excited to finally be able to work with their players because for a while now I have been unable to use them as the association agreed to allow them to concentrate on the Champions League.
“Look at the names and tell me which player from Pirates doesn’t deserve to be in my squad. Rooi plays like a teenager and is for me the best player in our league at the moment and is the right kind of player for this tournament. Unfortunately at 32 you can’t pick him when you build for the future,” said Igesund. Bafana squad: Goalkeepers: Senzo Meyiwa, Ronwen Williams Defenders: Thabo Nthethe, Tshepo Gumede, Tefu Mashamaite, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Rooi Mahamutsa, Tsepo Masilela, Thabo Matlaba, Happy Jele
Midfielders: Andile Jali, Hlompho Kekana, Oupa Manyisa, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bongani Zungu, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Lerato Chabangu, Daine Klate, Thuso Phala, Siphiwe Tshabalala
Strikers: Lennox Bacela, Bernard Parker, Kermit Erasmus, Edward Manqele
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