Lyle Lakay in action for Sundowns. Photo: BackpagePix
Lakay: I’m excited to test myself against the best in the world!
Lyle Lakay says he is looking forward to testing himself at the highest level as the Bafana squad prepares to face Guinea and France.
Lyle Lakay in action for Sundowns. Photo: BackpagePix
Bafana Bafana are scheduled to play international friendlies against Guinea on Friday, 25 March and France at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Tuesday, 29 March. The call-up for Lyle Lakay from Sundowns has particularly excited many fans.
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The 30-year-old Lakay is a product of the Old Mutual Academy who then made his way to the SuperSport United youth setup and got a promotion in 2009. ‘Lalas’ joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2018 and has played a role in their domestic success, with his ability convert free-kicks setting him apart from other fullbacks.
Lakay is particularly relishing the prospect of playing against the powerful French national team, but will face competition from Cape Town City’s Terrence Mashego for the left-back position.
“If I do make it, I’ll be happy, you know, if not, that’s not the end of the world. I’ll just continue working hard,” Lakay told the Sundowns media department.
“People will talk and say, ‘No, that’s people that we watch on TV on the European stage, you know, in the Champions League’ – Mbappe is one of the top players in the world right now.
“Then you get to Benzema and Griezmann and those guys. But, for me, personally, I’ll take this as something you tell yourself, you can test yourself against the best in the world.
“Obviously, their level, people will tell you, it’s higher than our level, but at the end of the day, you get to test yourself against the best in the world.
“[It] is something, you know, everybody wants to do. You want to see where you stand, you want to compete against the best, obviously, to see how far you can go.”
You can catch up on several of Broos’s comments below after he appeared on the Radio2000 Sports Night Live show.
“We knew that we needed to change some things in the team and improve after World Cup Qualifiers. It was also good for me to see the performances of Amazulu, Pirates and Sundowns in the continent. They can improve the Bafana team…
“The level is high at the AFCON although there is a difference when compared with the World Cup. AFCON is because the players use the tournament to show the European teams how good they are.”
Broos on the inclusion of Lakay, but omission of Bongani Zungu.
“It wasn’t easy for me when I came to SA because I didn’t know SA football and the players. I have now seen the players and with Lyle Lakay I have seen what he has been doing and now is his chance…
“I do not think now is the right time for me to put Bongani Zungu in the squad.”
Broos on the expectations of facing France
“France is the best opponent, they are the World Champions. Guinea will also be a tough. I wanted tough games, and what will be important in these games is our performance and how the players perform…
“I am not afraid of France. It would be stupid to ask for a win against France, I just want the boys to give a good performance. We will definitely lose but perhaps not embarrass ourselves.”
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The Bafana squad can be seen below, with Lakay hoping to make an impact
| NAME AND SURNAME | POSITION | CLUB | COUNTRY |
| 1.Ronwen WILLIAMS | GK | SuperSport United | South Africa |
| 2. Veli MOTHWA | GK | AmaZulu FC | South Africa |
| 3. Bruce BVAMU | GK | Kaizer Chiefs FC | South Africa |
| 4. Sydeny MOBBIE | DF | Sekhukhune United | South Africa |
| 5. Khuliso MUDAU | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 6. Terrence MASHEGO | DF | Cape Town City FC | South Africa |
| 7. Lyle LAKAY | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 8. Rushine DE REUCK | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 9. Siyanda XULU | DF | Unattached | South Africa |
| 10. Athenkosi MCABA | DF | Stellenbosch FC | South Africa |
| 11. Nkosinathi SIBISI | DF | Golden Arrows FC | South Africa |
| 12. Bandile SHANDU | DF | Orlando Pirates FC | South Africa |
| 13. Mothobi MVALA | MF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 14. Teboho MOKOENA | MF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 15. Goodman MOSELE | MF | Orlando Pirates FC | South Africa |
| 16. Thabang MONARE | MF | Orlando Pirates FC | South Africa |
| 17. Ethan BROOKS | MF | TS Galaxy FC | South Africa |
| 18. Keagan DOLLY | MF | Kaizer Chiefs FC | South Africa |
| 19. Lyle FOSTER | FW | Westerlo FC | Belgium |
| 20. Bongokuhle HLONGWANE | FW | Minnesota United FC | USA |
| 21. Evidence MAKGOPA | FW | Baroka FC | South Africa |
| 22. Fagrie LAKAY | FW | Pyramid FC | Egypt |
| 23. Percy TAU *Withdrawn *Victor Letsoalo added |
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Broos had already recently confirmed there would be new faces in his squad to face both Guinea and France in friendlies later this month.
In an interview with SowetanLIVE, Hugo Broos said there’s a need to blood a few new players to bolster the squad going forward.
“I have always said that the World Cup qualifiers campaign was the beginning. It was very difficult for me to select players because I didn’t know them but they did very well.
“However, there must be new faces because we’re not strong enough.
“If we were strong enough, we would have qualified for the playoffs. There are some weaknesses in the current group, therefore we have to look for other players.
“We are looking at the players in the league games and in the CAF competitions,” Hugo Broos added.
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