"WHEN you play for Sundowns you have more opportunity to play for Bafana Bafana," according to former Bafana Bafana and current Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane yesterday.

The statement makes more sense when you look at Bonginkosi Ntuli, who recently joined the team from relegated side Golden Arrows and is in Ephraim "Shakes" Mashaba's first Bafana squad.

"I think 90% of the South African players here at Sundowns have played for Bafana. That's what I told Ntuli, that if he comes here, instead of going to the first division, he has a better chance of playing for Bafana," Mosimane said.

"It's something I didn't expect, as I haven't played many games but the coach knows why he called me up," said 23-year-old Ntuli, who first made his debut in the Premier Soccer League two seasons ago at Abafana Bes'thende.

Ntuli is part of the 25-man squad that Mashaba announced on Friday for Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and African champions Nigeria next month.

The squad is relatively knew as the average age in the squad is 23.

The South African Football Association has given Mashaba room to build a squad that should be ripe to compete for top honours by 2022.

"The age in the squad is good and we can build on it ahead of the next World Cup," said 24-year-old Sundowns defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele, who also earned a Bafana call-up.

"There are some players who haven't been called up but it's the first camp and Shakes can't call everybody," added Mphahlele, as some people have been critical of the team after expected names like Thulani Serero and May Mahlangu were omitted from the list.

Ntuli believes his team is ready for their Wednesday's home league clash against Orlando Pirates but does not think they have an advantage over the Soweto side.

This after the Brazilians had a weekend off, while the Buccaneers knocked off Bidvest Wits in the MTN8 semifinal on Saturday night.

"We're facing a difficult task on Wednesday but we're prepared," said Mphahlele.