BAFANA Bafana's famous moniker will soon be phased out and Safa is expected to call on South Africans to choose a new nickname for the national squad.

The process of getting rid of the nickname, which was coined by the Sowetan sports department and has since become an international brand, has received massive support from the government.

This comes after Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula said yesterday that the department supports the idea of giving the team a new and vibrant sobriquet.

Sowetan has learnt that the task team appointed by Safa's national executive committee has a suggestion.

The committee, led by Safa president Kirsten Nematandani, his deputy Danny Jordaan and executive member Alpha Mchunu, will present their recommendations for a new nickname at a meeting in Johannesburg tomorrow.

The management committee, which includes Irvin Khoza, Mandla "Shoes" Mazibuko and Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, will meet today to prepare for tomorrow's meeting.

Mbalula said: "It's a debate that must come to finality. We need lions that will roar. I'm not saying we must call the team The Lions. We don't need elephants. If you are a Bafana Bafana, you can just be a boy next door who must bring water. Bafana Bafana was a very nice nickname when it was conceptualised."