Lars Veldwijk of South Africa during South Africa morning session at Peter Mokab Stadium, November on the 08 November 2016 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Lars Veldwijk of South Africa during South Africa morning session at Peter Mokab Stadium, November on the 08 November 2016 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Lars Veldwijk, remember him? Could he be Hugo Broos’ biggest Bafana snub?

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos announced his preliminary World Cup Qualifiers squad earlier this week, which didn’t feature Lars Veldwijk.

Lars Veldwijk of South Africa during South Africa morning session at Peter Mokab Stadium, November on the 08 November 2016 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Lars Veldwijk of South Africa during South Africa morning session at Peter Mokab Stadium, November on the 08 November 2016 © Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos announced his preliminary World Cup Qualifiers squad earlier this week, which didn’t feature Lars Veldwijk. 

There have been a number of players fans have voiced their unhappiness over Broos snubbing them for his recent Bafana list, but seemingly very few mentioning Veldwijk. 

Veldwijk made his debut 2016

The Dutch-born striker made his Bafana Bafana debut as far back as 2016 when Veldwijk started upfront in a friendly against Mozambique under then coach, Shakes Mashaba. However, that would prove to be the last time South Africans would see Veldwijk.

That is because, Veldwijk would then go on to have a bit of dry spell at then club Nottingham Forrest in the English Championship, which then also coincided with the sacking of Mashaba as Bafana coach. Stuart Baxter would then go on to be appointed the national team coach.

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Then after a prolific season back in his country of birth, which saw Veldwijk score 24 goals in 36 appearances in the Eereste Divisie for former club Sparta Rotterdam, he found himself back in the Bafana fold for the first time since 2016. It was also his first call up under Baxter, who then showed confidence in the striker, who he took with to Afcon 2019 in Egypt.

Ntseki didn’t fancy him for Bafana

That would be the last time the 30 year-old would represent Bafana Bafana as he was overlooked by Baxter’s successor Molefi Ntseki. Veldwijk himself had struggled at club level since, even finding himself struggling in the Korean K 1 League, before seeing his side relegated to the K 2 League. 

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However, this season has seen Veldwijk return to his blistering best. Just two weeks ago, he scored his 15th goal of the K 1 League season for Suwon and the target man seems to be providing them with exactly the qualities Bafana Bafana have been lacking thus far from the likes of youngster Evidence Makgopa. 

Could he have been the ideal mentor fr Makgopa?

Although a talented young player with bags of ability and potential, Makgopa seemed to struggle in the two World Cup Qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana. The presences of the experienced Veldwijk could’ve offered him some guidance into that role, not to mention what his form would’ve offered Bafana. He, however, does not seem to be in the plans of Broos at the moment with Pirates striker Tshegofhatso Mabasa getting the nod instead.