The National First Division is seen as the abyss of SA football, but with Shakes Mashaba's tendency to pull selection rabbits out of the hat, excelling lower division players often find themselves in the reckoning.
AmaZulu left-back Marc van Heerden is now one of those after the Durban club was relegated last season. He chose to stay after a huge price tag was put on his head.
Mashaba will announce his squad today for the trip to Mauritania in Bafana Bafana's second Group M 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 5. Van Heerden is not worried about his Bafana chances while plying his trade in the NFD. AmaZulu face Witbank Spurs on Saturday in their opening fixture.
"At the end of the day, if a player is performing, regardless of the league they are playing in, I don't see why they should not get a national team call-up. If the player is on form and basing our selections on merit, that's the only justifiable way of doing things.
"The NFD is not as easy a league as people think it is. Going down to the NFD is tough but it is still competitive and it will still be a challenge ..." Van Heerden said.
Van Heerden is not fazed
The National First Division is seen as the abyss of SA football, but with Shakes Mashaba's tendency to pull selection rabbits out of the hat, excelling lower division players often find themselves in the reckoning.
AmaZulu left-back Marc van Heerden is now one of those after the Durban club was relegated last season. He chose to stay after a huge price tag was put on his head.
Mashaba will announce his squad today for the trip to Mauritania in Bafana Bafana's second Group M 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 5. Van Heerden is not worried about his Bafana chances while plying his trade in the NFD. AmaZulu face Witbank Spurs on Saturday in their opening fixture.
"At the end of the day, if a player is performing, regardless of the league they are playing in, I don't see why they should not get a national team call-up. If the player is on form and basing our selections on merit, that's the only justifiable way of doing things.
"The NFD is not as easy a league as people think it is. Going down to the NFD is tough but it is still competitive and it will still be a challenge ..." Van Heerden said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos