Kickoff (Cape Town)
2 October 2008
A mixture of exciting new blood and tried and tested overseas experience is what Bafana Bafana coach Joel Santana will be relying on when South Africa travels to Equatorial Guinea next Thursday for their last African Nations qualifier.
Announcing his squad yesterday, the Brazilian mentor called it his 'best possible' team for a match that has no significance in terms of the continental competition as both Bafana and Guinea are already out of contention to progress.
Notable omissions from the 23-member crew are injured Steven Pienaar, Sibusiso Zuma, out-of-form Surprise Moriri and missing Mbulelo Mabizela.
Santana says the sole purpose of this game is to win.
"We may have lost out to qualify for the 2010 African Cup of Nations, but this is a competitive game and we will play to win it," says the national team coach.
"That is why we have assembled the best possible squad to play this game. As you will note the team is a balance of experienced and young players."
Bafana will assemble on Monday, October 6 at 11h00 at the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Hotel in Kempton Park and will have a private gym session from 15h15.
The team will have two training sessions on Tuesday, October 7, and Wednesday, October 8.
The squad that is scheduled to leave for West Africa on Thursday next week at 10h30 is:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates).
Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bryce Moon (Panithinaikos), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers), Nasief Morris (Recreativo), Matthew Booth (Krylya Sovetov), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya), Bradley Carnell (Karlsruher), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Morgan Gould (SuperSport).
Midfielders: Bernard Parker (Thanda Royal Zulu), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden arrows), Teko Modise (Pirates), Siyabonga Nkosi (Arminia), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs), Lefa Tsutsulupa (Moroka Swallows), Lance Davids (Djurgardens), Masilo Modubi (Westerlo),
Strikers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Maccabi Haifa), Katlego Mashego (SuperSport).
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