By Michael Madyira
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has once again snubbed in-form Cape Town City forward Khanyisa Mayo from his preliminary squad for the upcoming international friendly matches.
South Africa is scheduled to travel to Algeria for the Fifa Series international friendlies pilot project that runs from 18 to 26 March.
Bafana meet Andorra on 21 March before clashing with Algeria five days later.
It is the first team selection by Broos since Bafana beat DR Congo in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff in February.
The major talking point about the Belgian’s 32-member provisional squad is the omission of Mayo.
After finishing last season as the Premier Soccer League joint top goal-scorer, the 25-year-old is second on the scorer’s chart with nine league goals in 17 games this season.
But Broos continues to freeze him out of the national side in preference to the Orlando Pirates duo of Evidence Makgopa and Zakhele Lepasa, who are both struggling for goals.
The Belgian named a familiar squad and the likes of defenders Siyabonga Ngezana, Innocent Maela and Tapelo Xoki made the final cut.
Goodman Mosele, the Pirates midfielder on loan to Chippa United, has also been called up together with AmaZulu attackers Mlondi Mbanjwa and Tshepang Moremi who are the new faces in this squad.
While Mamelodi Sundowns continue to dominate Broos’s squad, Kaizer Chiefs players are still struggling to charm the former Cameroon trainer.
Only Amakhosi goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma made it as a reward for keeping seven clean sheets in Chiefs’s last eight games across two competitions.
With Veli Mothwa having lost his AmaZulu number-one spot, it could be a chance for Bvuma to be considered in the final selection.
FULL SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs), Ricardo Goss (Supersport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu).
DEFENDERS: Sydney Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Bradley Cross (Golden Arrows), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Aubrey Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyanda Xulu (Supersport United), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tapelo Xoki (Orlando Pirates), Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania), Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates).
MIDFIELDERS: Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Goodman Mosele (Chippa United), Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch FC), Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela, Portugal), Thabang Monare (Orlando Pirates), Grant Margeman (Supersport United).
FORWARDS: Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Zakhele Lepasa (Orlando Pirates), Oswin Appollis (Polokwane City), Patrick Maswanganyi (Orlando Pirates), Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Mlondi Mbanjwa (Amazulu), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC), Tshepang Moremi (Amazulu), Elias Mokwana (Sekhukhune United), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Thapelo Maseko (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Pictured above: Cape Town City forward Khanyisa Mayo.
Image source: Cape Town City
