Bafana not for Chiefs and Pirates alone – Legend speaks

Renowned Kaizer Chiefs legend Mandla Masango is unfazed with no Amakhosi players in the Bafana Bafana squad – saying it’s not for Orlando Pirates and Chiefs only.

Masango speaks to iDiski Times, stating that having no Chiefs players in the national squad means every player must be there based on merit.

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Yet to retire, the legend says it doesn’t make sense to say Chiefs have no players in the Bafana squad when every player is representing Mzansi.

Under coach Hugo Broos and currently at the Afcon tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, Chiefs have no single player in the Bafana squad.

However, this doesn’t seem to bother the celebrated legend who says every South African deserves an opportunity to don the Bafana jersey.

BAFANA NOT FOR CHIEFS AND PIRATES ALONE – LEGEND SPEAKS

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On top of that, the former SuperSport United and Chiefs winger shares his thoughts just after Broos overlooked the likes of Pule Mmodi and Sibongiseni Mthethwa despite including them in his preliminary squad.

“Like I said, the national team is not for Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates only,” Masango tells iDiski Times.

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“It’s for everyone eligible to play for Bafana Bafana, irrespective of which club you play for.

“As long as you’ve got a green ID like you’re registered as a South African citizen, then you stand a chance of playing for Bafana.

“So we can’t just solely say there are no Chiefs players. Whoever is there is representing Bafana Bafana and South Africa at large.”

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LEGEND MASANGO ADDRESSES UNFAIR CRITICISM OF BAFANA

Born in Mpumalanga, the former Bafana winger, Masango adds that criticism from the media and the fans is unfair.

“Like I said during my last interview talking about Bafana Bafana, all they need is the love and support from every individual who is a South African,” adds the Chiefs legend.

“As much as you criticise, even constructive criticism, we haven’t even started playing. Why are you criticising?

“I mean, we need to support. As I said, we need to follow the rugby guys where before they left, there was no criticism. Everyone was positive.

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“Why can’t we do the same with football, especially Bafana Bafana? They need our love and support.

“And as journalists, you need to write good stories about them irrespective of what the supporters’ opinions are because if I crush you even before the tournament starts, what am I saying to you?”

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Fresh from a humbling 2-0 loss against Mali on Tuesday, Bafana will now face Namibia in their second Group E Afcon tie on Sunday.

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