Hugo Broos reveals why Mamelodi Sundowns stars are absent from Bafana Bafana lineup
Hugo Broos explains the exclusion of key Mamelodi Sundowns players from the Bafana Bafana squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to injuries and performance levels. Picture: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Media
When Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos announced his squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, it may have raised a few eyebrows to see a number of key Mamelodi Sundowns names missing.
CAF Group C leaders Bafana will take on Lesotho on September 5, before welcoming Nigeria four days later. Both matches will be staged at the Free State Stadium.
South Africa currently have a healthy lead in Group C with 13 points after six matches. Rwanda and Benin are tied on eight points, with Nigeria fourth on seven points.
The top finisher in each CAF group will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup next year.
Reasons for Exclusion of Jaden Adams, Fawaaz Basadien, Thapelo Morena, and Grant Kekana from the Squad
The reasons the Brazilians quartet were left out, though, were easily explained by the coach.
“Kekana is injured, so he was not ready to be with us,” said Broos on SABC 1.
“Jaden, I think we talked about him for the moment he’s not at that level we want from him.
“Fawaaz the same thing and Thapelo is coming out of injury. His first game he played now with Sundowns yesterday, before he was again injured on the hamstring I think. So I think Morena is for the moment not ready to play those games.
“We have to be careful with that, that we don’t take a player who is not ready. So therefore, for example [Kamogelo] Sebelebele is in fantastic form. So if we doubt between Thapelo and him the choice is very easy to make, because Sebelebele is ready.”