South Africa Names Squad To Take On Socceroos
South African coach Styles Phumo has named his 18-man squad to take on the Socceroos next Wednesday morning (AEST).
By Ben Coonan South African coach Styles Phumo has named his 18-man squad to take on the Socceroos next Wednesday morning (AEST).
Phumo's squad features just nine of the 22 players used by the Bafana Bafana in the recent African Nations Cup in Tunisia, where the perennial African powerhouses failed to get past the first stage of the tournament for the first time in their history.
Ajax midfielder Stephen Pienaar returns to the team after missing the continental championships through injury, while striker Shaun Bartlett, defender Bradley Carnell and custodian Hans Vonk end their international exile following a row with former coach Ephraim Mashaba.
Coincidentally, nine is also the number of players in the squad that appeared at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.
Of the current crop, only Carnell, Aaron Mokoena, Sibusiso Zuma and Siyabonga Nomvethe were regular starters in Korea/Japan, where South Africa fell agonizingly short of an historic second round berth.
Phumo will name his captain when the team assembles in London on Sunday.
Goalkeepers Hans VONK - Heerenveen, Netherlands Emille BARON - Lillestrom, Norway
Defenders Mbulelo MABIZELA - Tottenham Hotspur, England Thabang MOLEFE - Le Mans, France Bradley CARNELL - Monchengladbach, Germany Jacob LEKGETHO - Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia Aaron MOKOENA - Genk, Belgium Neil WINSTANLEY - Wits University, South Africa
Midfielders Stephen PIENAAR - Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands Sibusiso ZUMA - FC Copenhagen, Denmark Japhet ZWANE - FC Rostov, Russia Lance DAVIDS - 1860 Munich, Germany Bernard MNGUNI - FC Rostov, Russia Delron BUCKLEY - VFL Bochum, Germany Benedict VILAKAZI - Orlando Pirates, South Africa
Strikers George KOUMENTARAKIS - Preston North End, England Siyabonga NOMVETE - Salernitana, Italy Shaun BARTLETT - Charlton Athletic, England Socceroo coach Frank Farina names his squad tomorrow (Thursday).