Bafana boss: Why I picked ZERO Chiefs players for Morocco clash

Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why no Chiefs were able to crack the nod for his latest squad named on Thursday.

On Thursday, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos unveiled the final list of players he will send to represent South Africa in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against World Cup semi-finalists Morocco this month. Notably, though, there was not a single Chiefs player in the group after it was trimmed from 34 to 23.

Bafana have already achieved qualification for the AFCON finals in Ivory Coast next year, and Broos said there was ultimately just not enough space in the squad to consider adding any Chiefs players.

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“You know there are only 23 players to choose, hey,” he said in response to a question over why players from one of the ‘most popular clubs in the country’ had been snubbed.

“So if you are going to choose players because they are playing in the ‘biggest team of the country’, then I have to choose 30 players. That is not possible.”

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THE BAFANA SQUAD WITHOUT ANY CHIEFS PLAYERS

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams [Mamelodi Sundowns], Veli Mothwa [AmaZulu], Ricardo Goss [SuperSport United]

Defenders: Sydney Mobbie [Sekhukhune United], Siyanda Xulu [Turan Tovuz], Innocent Maela and Nkosinathi Sibisi [Orlando Pirates], Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana and Mothobi Mvala [All Mamelodi Sundowns]

Midfielders: Luke Le Roux [Varbergs BoIS], Njabulo Blom [Saint Louis], Teboho Mokoena [Mamelodi Sundowns], Bathusi Aubaas [TS Galaxy]

Forwards: Monnapule Saleng [Orlando Pirates], Themba Zwane and Cassius Mailula [Both Mamelodi Sundowns], Mihlali Mayambela [Aris Limassol], Bongokuhle Hlongwane [Minnesota United FC], Percy Tau [Al Ahly SC], Zakhele Lepasa and Thapelo Maseko [SuperSport United]

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South Africa will take on the Atlas Lions on Saturday 17 June 2023 at the FNB Stadium. The match will get underway at 17h00.

Bafana Bafana will go into the game on the back of an unbeaten run that began last year. The run began in September when Broos’ charges beat Sierra Leone and Botswana in two friendlies played at FNB Stadium and they have been unbeaten since.

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