Broos names his first World Cup qualifiers squad
South African football coach Hugo Broos has named a 31-man squad
for their first two World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana at the
beginning of next month.
Group G includes Bafana Bafana, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia with the winner of the group progressing to the final qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar next year.
Bafana Bafana face Zimbabwe’s Warriors in the opening match at the National Sports Stadium on Friday, 3 September (kick off 15h00). They then take on the Black Stars of Ghana at FNB Stadium three days later on 6 September 2021. That match kicks off at 18h00.
The next stage of the CAF Group encounters are in October and the month of November sees the final Group matches in which the 10 Group winners will face each other to decide which 5 African countries will represent Africa in Qatar 2022.
Broos has named a 31-man squad in a bid to further assess most of the players before whittling down his squad to 23 players that he will travel with to Zimbabwe and for the home game against Ghana.
Broos has not had enough time to see most of his players in action but watched the Sundowns/Chiefs game last Sunday hence he has named a bigger squad. The Bafana Bafana coach will name his final 23-man squad on Tuesday, 24 August 2021.
Given that Bafana Bafana recently won the COSAFA Cup, the coach has used that as a basis of his selection.
“First of all we used the COSAFA Cup as a reference for
selection,” Broos said. “It was a fantastic tournament for Bafana Bafana and I
saw all the games and it was interesting to see some other players I didn’t
know so it’s helped me a lot.
“I also used the Olympics and I know the results weren’t what we wanted but I
saw the three games that they played and again it was interesting for me to see
some of the players and their quality.”
With such a quick turn-around and short selection period, Broos wants to create
a culture quickly around the side.
“Yes quality is important but the mentality and the team spirit I want to create is more important.
“I want to build a team who is honoured to be Bafana Bafana and secondly a team that is ambitious and wants to win.
“A team who is fighting on the field for every ball, for every metre and we’ll try to create that mentality,” Broos added.
Bafana Bafana 31-man squad for FIFA Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Supersport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs), Sifiso Mlungwana (Golden Arrows)
Defenders: Sydney Mobbie (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rushine De Reuck (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyanda Xulu (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel),Thibang Phete (Belenenses FC, Portugal), Thabani Dube (Kaizer Chiefs), Njabulo Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs), Mosa Lebusa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sibusiso Mabiliso (Kaizer Chiefs),Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Kobamelo Kodisang (FC Braga, Portugal),Sipho Mbule (Supersport United), Teboho Mokoena (Supersport United), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphelele Mkhulise (Mamelodi Sundowns), Sphephelo Sithole (Belenenses FC, Portugal), Yusuf Maart (Sekhukhune FC), Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy), Siyethemba Sithebe (Amazulu), Njabulo Blom (Kaizer Chiefs)
Strikers: Thabiso Kutumela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Maritzburg United), Gift Links (Aarhus GF, Denmark), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC), Victor Letsoalo (Bloemfontein Celtics), Percy Tau (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Luther Singh (F.C Copenhagen, Denmark)
