Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has revealed reasons behind some surprises in the latest Bafana squad including the absence of Defender of the Season Khuliso Mudau and nominee TS Galaxy's Given Msimango.
South Africa is set to host with Morocco on 17 June for an African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier clash, although the teams have both already qualified.
READ | Hugo Broos names latest Bafana squad to take on Morocco
Following a week-long camp, Broos named a final 23-man squad trimmed down from the 32-man preliminary squad named towards the end of May.
Msimango, who featured in every single match for the Rockets this season and was nominated for DStv Premiership defender of the Season award made it to the preliminary squad but was a surprise cut for the final team.
"We noted him (Msimango) certainly and [Grant] Margeman too, but again I hope for him (Msimango) that he plays all the games [at his new club].
"It's important for them and this is also a pity that here in this country we can't work with those guys."
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— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) June 8, 2023
"If I say now, we wanted to call them for the Cosafa [cup] but the league told us we don't release the players and this is a pity because maybe those guys are not really ready to come train with us but if they should play at a tournament like that and get international experience, it would be good of them.
????Bafana Bafana 23-man squad for the AFCON qualifier against Morocco???? on Saturday, 17 June 2023. pic.twitter.com/AxQ9flPFAs
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) June 8, 2023
Another big surprise omission was Sundowns Khuliso Mudau who, despite being voted Defender the Season, did not make it to the final squad.
"You know I said my choices are starting to be difficult. This a good thing," Broos said.
"Difficult decision as you said, Mudau is the defender of the year but as I said about Nyiko already [that he has never disappointed] and with Morena, Morena is not only a defender, he can play also on the right or up front. This is a player that can play several positions.
"Then you say, maybe it's better than I pick him because you never know. You saw what he did in Liberia, because we put him up-front. So with Mudau, you can't do that. Mudau is a right back, then finish."
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The Belgian coach however indicated that the players who did not make the cut would remain in the pool for selection.
"I have a team now, not of 23 players but of 30 or 35, I can choose that will not change so much anymore in the next months," Broos added.
"This is what I wanted, to have a pool and to make decisions and know who to take and the guys also who come in know how we work and what I ask from them."
The clash against Morocco will be played at FNB Stadium. Kick-off is at 17:00.
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