Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos reveals details as he faced bribery accusations in Cameroon. Image: (@BafanaBafana/Facebook)
Bafana Bafana boss Broos identifies long-term Themba Zwane replacement
Big shoes to fill.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos reveals details as he faced bribery accusations in Cameroon. Image: (@BafanaBafana/Facebook)
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos believes Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi can replace Themba Zwane in the long term.
Orlando Pirates star to step up for Bafana Bafana
Broos announced a 23-man squad to face Andorra and Algeria in friendlies later this month. Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi is one of 10 new faces in the group compared to that which reached the Afcon semi-finals. The Belgian tactician sees Maswanganyi as a potential replacemeant for the 34-year-old Sundowns maestro Themba Zwane. Both Maswanganyi and Zwane hail from Tembisa, incidentally.
”Maswanganyi, what I saw from him – I think he can be the one for the future. I saw him play on Wednesday and had a chat with Helman and saw him play again on Saturday, he played a very good game, this is what I want to see from him for the national team – if he achieves at this level with us, he can be someone that can replace Themba for the future,” said Broos.
”I don’t think about him, I don’t think about replacing Themba now. But we must think, Themba is 35, he will be 37 in 2006, so we have to be ready – and hope that Maswanganyi is the one and will solve that problem for the future,” added Broos.
Broos ready to back Maswanganyi
25-year-old Patrick Maswanganyi is still uncapped for South Africa but does have vital experience abroad from a stint in Portugal.
”Ok, 25, this is the guy for the next seven years, if he is good enough, he should be good for 2006. I prefer the younger guys, this is the future,” he concluded.
NGEZANA CALLED UP FOR BAFANA
FCSB defender Siyabonga Ngezana is in the Bafana squad. South Africa contests friendlies against Andorra on March 21 and Algeria on March 26. Broos says 26-year-old Ngezana could be the long-term replacement for 32-year-old SuperSport star Siyanda Xulu. Ngezana has been in supreme form for the Romanian SuperLiga leaders.
“Ngezana was a point of discussion for AFCON, whether to take him with us or not,” said Broos on Monday, as he named a 23-man squad for the two games.
“He was playing very well in Romania, but he had never been with us so in the end we didn’t make the change. Now he has again been playing very well in Romania … Siyanda (Xulu) is a certain age and we have to look also to the future. If Ngezana can give us the same level he has in Romania, we could be settled again (at centre back) for the future.”
“We are a bit in trouble with strikers at the moment. I got criticism that Mayo was not at the AFCON and I said what I said and I will repeat it, I expected more progress from Mayo,” said Broos.
(But) I think now with all the strikers we have injured – (Evidence) Makgopa, (Lebo) Mothiba and (Lyle) Foster, he will get his chance. It is up to him … to show me he has the level for Bafana.”
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