SuperSport United centre-back and former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo has insists he is still available for national team duty after a four-year absence.
The experienced campaigner is one of fee players that have represented South Africa at every level from the junior ranks, eventually making 54 appearances for Bafana Bafana so far.
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Although his last appearance for the national came in November 2020, Hlatshwayo is still ready to honour a call-up.
"I think I made it clear that it’s always an honour to represent your cunty and I made it clear during the SuperSport awards that I haven’t retired from the national team, so I’m still available," the defender told journalists at the MultiChoice Player Transition graduation ceremony last week.
At 34, Hlatshwayo would be one of the oldest players in the squad alongside Themba Zwane and Thabang Monare, who are also 34 years old.
The Matsatsantsa captain though faces stiff competition for a place in the Bafana line-up with head coach Hugo Broos spoilt for choice in the centre-back position. The Belgian mentor ha previously opted for the Siyanda Xulu-Mothobi Mvala combination before recently substituting Xulu with Grant Kekana.
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Xulu’s future in the squad also suffered a dent when Broos revealed that he intends to add younger defenders into mix, recently calling FCBS’s Siyabonga Ngezana up to the latest squad in place of Xulu for the friendlies against Andorra and Algeria.
Broos was then forced to go back on his decision when it emerged that Ngezana could not make the trip due to reportedly missing travel documentation.
Meanwhile, Bafana will be looking for an improved performance when they take on Algeria on Tuesday night after being held to a 1-1 draw by Andorra.
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