Head coach Hugo Broos has heaped more praise on Orlando Pirates midfielder Thabang Monare as Bafana Bafana put in the final preparations for the upcoming AFCON.
One of the surprise inclusion was the return of Monare, who at 34, becomes the oldest player in the camp alongside Mamelodi Sundowns talisman Themba Zwane.
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The midfielder was called up as part of Broos’ first match as Bafana coach in an international friendly against Uganda in June 2021 and last played for Bafana during an international friendly that ended in a 5-0 defeat to France in 2022.
Speaking to media on Tuesday, Broos explained that experience is one of the major reasons he opted for the industrious midfielder.
"I think you know where we are going," Broos said.
"We are not going to a friendly game, we are going to a big tournament.
"Then you can choose young players and before you play one game you are already out, because those guys don’t have the experience, so you need also to have a good mix.
"That’s why I chose Thabang and I chose him already before. I don’t know what went wrong at Pirates, but suddenly he didn’t play anymore after France.
"Why? I don’t know but you see now this season he is playing again regularly and I think with the qualities he has, when we have a problem there, that he is the right man. He has the experience, he is a good player.
"In recuperation (ball recovery), he is good. So that is the reason why Thabang is there.
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Bafana take on Lesotho in a practice match to be played in Pretoria on Wednesday before flying to Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Broos' men will start their 2023 AFCON title pursuit with a Group E clash against Mali on 16 January before meeting Namibia on 21 January and wrapping up the group stage action against Tunisia on 24 January.You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
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