Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Pitso Mosimane wants young players competing for Bafana places and says senior reputations will not guarantee selection.
- Bafana begin the 2027 Afcon qualifying against Guinea before facing Eritrea, with Egypt providing a major test for younger players.
Pitso Mosimane has opened the door for younger players to fight for places in his new-look Bafana Bafana team.
The coach named his first 30-man squad on Thursday ahead of South Africa’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The announcement briefly went wrong when the full squad accidentally appeared on a screen before Mosimane had finished reading out the names.
Mosimane laughed it off and quickly moved on to a bigger message: nobody’s place is guaranteed.
Even the captaincy will be shared.
Ronwen Williams will remain one of the captains, while Sipho Chaine and Themba Zwane will also be part of the leadership group.
“We need young boys to lead and learn how to lead,” Mosimane said, News24 reported.
The new faces include Lebone Seema, Yanela Mbuthuma, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Tashreeq Matthews and Puso Dithejane.
Lebohang Maboe, Fawaz Basadien, Cassius Mailula, Luther Singh and Shandre Campbell have also returned.
Mosimane said younger players must prove they can handle international football.
“Let them show that they are ready to play,” he said. “Let them show that the jersey isn’t heavy.”
Bafana host Guinea at Orlando Stadium on 26 September before facing Eritrea in Egypt three days later.
They will then play Egypt in a friendly on 3 October.
Mosimane plans to use that match to test players who have not had enough chances.
But he made it clear that qualifying for Afcon comes first.
“The priority is qualifying for the Afcon,” he said.
Mosimane wants players who can score, create chances and compete with the established stars.
“So let’s open this thing and let the game say who deserves to be here,” he said.
Pictured above: Pitso Mosimane.
Image source: @Caf_Online/X
