By Dylan Bettencourt
- Bafana coach Hugo Broos dropped players including Sipho Chaine and Elias Mokwana from his squad for Panama friendlies for poor discipline.
- New call-ups include Sekhukhune United keeper Renaldo Leaner, Mamelodi Sundowns pair Jayden Adams and Themba Zwane and attacker Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
Hugo Broos has dropped several players from the Bafana Bafana squad for this month’s friendly matches against Panama because of poor discipline at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco.
Bafana lost 2-1 to Cameroon in the last 16. Broos and assistant coach Helman Mkhalele reviewed what went wrong after returning home.
“We made the evaluation of Afcon shortly after we came back and we saw things that couldn’t happen anymore,” Broos said, TimesLive reported. “I hope the guys who are not here will look in the mirror and ask, ‘Why am I not with the national team?'”
Among those left out are Sipho Chaine, Siyabonga Ngezana, Sipho Mbule, Bathusi Aubaas, Mohau Nkota, Elias Mokwana and striker Iqraam Rayners. Not all were dropped for attitude. Some changes are about form and tactics.
“You must have discipline. When you don’t have the discipline to arrive on time for meals, you will not have the discipline to follow instructions on the field,” Broos said.
He said things were not right off the pitch, and that was the main reason Bafana did not perform well at Afcon.
Players coming in include Sekhukhune United goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner, Hannover 96 defender Ime Okon, Mamelodi Sundowns midfielders Jayden Adams and Themba Zwane, Minnesota United attacker Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Aris Limassol winger Thapelo Maseko.
Adams and Mbekezeli Mbokazi previously missed flights or reported late to camp. “I think they have learnt their lessons,” Broos said.
Zwane missed the last Afcon after returning from injury too late to be picked. Broos said he does not hesitate to pick Zwane when fit and hopes to have him at the World Cup.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
Image source: File
