South Africa have been forced into one squad change ahead of this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso.
Isaac Nhlapo‚ of Platinum Stars‚ received a first call-up as defensive cover for Rivaldo Coetzee.
The Ajax Cape Town defender has been withdrawn for a second successive month for the Bafana squad.
Last month Coetzee was down with flu and missed the internationals against Mauritania and Egypt and now has a hamstring tear which will keep him from playing in Ouagadougou on Saturday as the group phase of the African qualifiers get underway.
Nhlapo is a surprise call up but has been showing good form since forging a regular place for himself in the Stars’ team over the past 12 months.
The 25-year-old has started only 24 league matches in just over two seasons at Stars.
He had been signed from Thanda Royal Zulu after impressing then coach Alan Freese in trials.
Bafana are also assessing the fitness of fullback Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ who has an ankle complaint. A decision whether he will be able to travel is to be made before the squad leaves for west Africa on Tuesday.
The squad will fly to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast‚ sleep overnight and on Wednesday take a short flight to Ouagadougou.
They will leave Burkina Faso on Sunday morning after their match for Abidjan‚ catch a connecting flight to OR Tambo Airport and then fly on to Durban‚ where they will arrive late on Sunday evening.
South Africa play Ghana in a friendly international in Durban on Tuesday night. - TMG Sport
Platinum Stars' Nhlapho gets Bafana call-up
South Africa have been forced into one squad change ahead of this weekend’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso.
Isaac Nhlapo‚ of Platinum Stars‚ received a first call-up as defensive cover for Rivaldo Coetzee.
The Ajax Cape Town defender has been withdrawn for a second successive month for the Bafana squad.
Last month Coetzee was down with flu and missed the internationals against Mauritania and Egypt and now has a hamstring tear which will keep him from playing in Ouagadougou on Saturday as the group phase of the African qualifiers get underway.
Nhlapo is a surprise call up but has been showing good form since forging a regular place for himself in the Stars’ team over the past 12 months.
The 25-year-old has started only 24 league matches in just over two seasons at Stars.
He had been signed from Thanda Royal Zulu after impressing then coach Alan Freese in trials.
Bafana are also assessing the fitness of fullback Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ who has an ankle complaint. A decision whether he will be able to travel is to be made before the squad leaves for west Africa on Tuesday.
The squad will fly to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast‚ sleep overnight and on Wednesday take a short flight to Ouagadougou.
They will leave Burkina Faso on Sunday morning after their match for Abidjan‚ catch a connecting flight to OR Tambo Airport and then fly on to Durban‚ where they will arrive late on Sunday evening.
South Africa play Ghana in a friendly international in Durban on Tuesday night. - TMG Sport