Kaizer Chiefs star gets late call-up to Bafana Bafana squad as injury cover

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has confirmed that Kaizer Chiefs defender Njabulo Ngcobo has been called up to the squad in preparation for their upcoming 2022 Soccer World Cup qualifiers.

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Broos confirmed the reigning PSL Defender of the Season has trained with the squad as an extra player after recent injury concerns in his defence.

Ngcobo was named in Broos’ provisional 31-man squad, but was omitted when the Belgian trimmed his squad to 23 players.

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Ngcobo becomes the fifth Kaizer Chiefs player currently in camp with Bafana Bafana.

The other four players are Bruce Bvuma, Njabulo Blom, Sibusiso Mabiliso and Thabani Dube.

Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates defenders Mosa Lebusa and Innocent Maela were ruled out through injury while Belenenses midfielder Sphephelo Sithole was omitted after testing positive for Covid-19.

“We had a few problems, as you know with Lebusa, Maela, and Sithole, but also now Mvala had a little injury,” said Broos as per iDiskiTimes on Tuesday.

“He [Mvala] will not train today and tomorrow and then we’ll see and decide on Wednesday if he will be ready for the game on Friday.

“For that reason, we called the 24th player, with [Njabulo] Ngcobo. He is here with us since this morning and we will see with Mvala. Maybe we will go to Zimbabwe with 24 players, that is something the doctor will decide.”

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South Africa face Zimbabwe at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Friday, 3 September before returning home to face Ghana at the FNB Stadium on Monday, 7 September.

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BAFANA BAFANA 23-MAN SQUAD FOR SOCCER WORLD CUP 2022 QUALIFIERS:

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United – captain), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs)

Defenders: Sydney Mobbie (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rushine De Reuck (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thapelo Morena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyanda Xulu (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel),Thibang Phete (Belenenses FC, Portugal), Thabani Dube (Kaizer Chiefs), Sibusiso Mabiliso (Kaizer Chiefs)

Midfielders: Sipho Mbule (SuperSport United), Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns), Yusuf Maart (Sekhukhune FC), Ethan Brooks (TS Galaxy), Njabulo Blom (Kaizer Chiefs)

Strikers: Thabiso Kutumela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Maritzburg United), Gift Links (Aarhus GF, Denmark), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC), Victor Letsoalo (Bloemfontein Celtics), Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt), Luther Singh (F.C Copenhagen, Denmark)