JABULANI Shongwe has a message for Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba - that he has a new passport and is eagerly awaiting a call-up.
Shongwe blew a chance when, because of a lost passport, he was unable to join Mashaba's young squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan in Khartoum. The Bidvest Wits midfielder was then dropped from the home match against Nigeria in Cape Town.
"I lost my passport, so I had my temporary passport and it expired. It was a bad thing for me because I lost the chance to be part of the team," Shongwe said yesterday.
"I won't give up, I'll keep pushing, because I know if I keep doing well coach Shakes will give me a chance.
"But obviously it was sad to not be playing for the national team. It was a new coach and I had a chance to play. I'll fix that - next time I'll have my passport.
"After it happened I did call the coach to tell him how disappointed and sorry I was. Not having a passport as a professional player is not a good thing for me. He said I must keep pushing, hopefully I will get my chance."
Shongwe has a chance to start impressing Mashaba again when Wits play Moroka Swallows in the Telkom Knockout first round at Bidvest Stadium on Friday night.
Wits were convincing 3-0 winners over Swallows in a league match at Bidvest in late August. Students coach Gavin Hunt expects the Birds to be a different prospect in the Telkom KO.
"We beat them in the league earlier, but I'm sure that will have no bearing on the game on Friday," Hunt said.
"With them losing their last two games, I think it will take the pressure off them to play in a cup match.
"At the moment I think it's important for our team to play as much football as they can."
Shongwe will keep pushing - star has now sorted out his passport
JABULANI Shongwe has a message for Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba - that he has a new passport and is eagerly awaiting a call-up.
Shongwe blew a chance when, because of a lost passport, he was unable to join Mashaba's young squad for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan in Khartoum. The Bidvest Wits midfielder was then dropped from the home match against Nigeria in Cape Town.
"I lost my passport, so I had my temporary passport and it expired. It was a bad thing for me because I lost the chance to be part of the team," Shongwe said yesterday.
"I won't give up, I'll keep pushing, because I know if I keep doing well coach Shakes will give me a chance.
"But obviously it was sad to not be playing for the national team. It was a new coach and I had a chance to play. I'll fix that - next time I'll have my passport.
"After it happened I did call the coach to tell him how disappointed and sorry I was. Not having a passport as a professional player is not a good thing for me. He said I must keep pushing, hopefully I will get my chance."
Shongwe has a chance to start impressing Mashaba again when Wits play Moroka Swallows in the Telkom Knockout first round at Bidvest Stadium on Friday night.
Wits were convincing 3-0 winners over Swallows in a league match at Bidvest in late August. Students coach Gavin Hunt expects the Birds to be a different prospect in the Telkom KO.
"We beat them in the league earlier, but I'm sure that will have no bearing on the game on Friday," Hunt said.
"With them losing their last two games, I think it will take the pressure off them to play in a cup match.
"At the moment I think it's important for our team to play as much football as they can."
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