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| Gordon Igesund |
Igesund confirmed that Safa CEO Dennis Mumble is in talks with the PSL, discussions that have been going on since late June.
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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 Confederation of African Football Champions League final against Al Ahly of Egypt.
The African Nations Championship, meant only for players in the domestic league, takes place 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. "In this country, we always say we have the best league in the continent. Now it is time to prove it in the African Nations Championship, but only if we have our best players.
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"The team I picked to play Swaziland is, in my opinion, the best at the moment. And we still have some players knocking on the door, while others are recovering from injury."
Four days after the friendly in Swaziland, Bafana host world and European champions Spain at the FNB stadium. Igesund said he would announce the squad on Thursday.
It is a juggling act for the Bafana 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 Confederation of African Football competition as 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 I have been unable to use them as the association agreed to allow them to concentrate on the 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.
Bacela, 30, also received his first Bafana call-up, having impressed while leading the attacking line for Pirates in the Champions League and in the PSL.
The coach said the national team would play two more games in December before the tournament starts in January. He said while Swaziland were not the ideal opposition, the trip to Mbabane would give players enough recovery time to face Spain a few days later.
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
Source : bdlive.co.za
Tags : Bafana,safa, Igesund , south africa vs swaziland, Kermit Erusmus
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