Hugo Broos has explained that the main reason he hasn’t selected Sundowns stars like Lyle Lakay and Rivaldo Coetzee is that there simply isn’t room for them in his Bafana Bafana squad.
Lakay’s form has been outstanding for Sundowns this season, and Masandawana co-head coach Rulani Mokwena has expressed his own surprise that the left back is not in the Bafana squad, while Coetzee is also doing fine work for Sundowns as a defensive midfielder.
Neither, however, made the cut for next month’s back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, in Addis Ababa on 9 October and back in South Africa on 11 October.
“I can only select 23 players, I know that those…are good, but it is not the right moment to select them,” Broos said.
“Already (Sifiso) Hlanti is there (at left back),” added Broos.
“So if they are not there today… if they can carry on playing at the level they are now, maybe they will be there for the (November) games against Ghana and Zimbabwe.
“I do not give presents. It is not because your name is Mr This that you will be in Bafana. It doesn’t count with me. I tried to select the strongest team possible.”
Hlanti will certainly add experience at the back, as will Mamelodi Sundowns defender Mosa Lebusa, who only missed the first two qualifiers through injury.
“These are difficult games (against Ethiopia) and I think I also need a bit more experience in the team. You see that with Hlanti,” added Broos.
The Bafana head coach also expressed his irritation with certain players who had passport issues that messed with their chances of playing for Bafana.
“It is something to do with attitude, you know your passport is not valid any more, you know it months before.
“You need to have a professional attitude,” said Broos.
