BAFANA Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has finally announced the 23-man squad who will carry the hopes of millions of South Africans in the Fifa World Cup that kicks off on June 11.

BAFANA Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has finally announced the 23-man squad who will carry the hopes of millions of South Africans in the Fifa World Cup that kicks off on June 11.

The biggest surprise exclusion in the squad was definitely the omission of Benni McCarthy but there were also some surprising inclusions.

We look at some of the players who, although there is no questioning their talent, were surprise choices for the final squad.

Here they are:

Goalkeeper

l Name: Shu-Aib Walters

Club: Maritzburg United

Age: 28

He was a surprise inclusion, considering that he ousted the vastly experienced Rowen Fernandez. Also, he has never really been tested at international level.

Defender

l Name: Matthew Booth

Club: Mamelodi Sundown

Age: 33

The lanky defender has been far from convincing, and it was really a surprise when he made the final squad. He was badly exposed by lowly Guatemala on Monday.

Defensive midfielder

l Name: Lance Davids

Club: Ajax Cape Town

Age: 25

How this man made the final squad is anyone's guess.

Defender

l Name: Anele Ngcongca

Club: Racing Genk, Belgium

Age: 22

He beat off strong competition from Bryce Moon. That means, in the unfortunate event that Siboniso Gaxa should be injured, South Africans will have to rely on him for a place in defence.

Ngcongca was born in Gugulethu in Cape Town on October 20 1987 and currently plays club football for K.R.C. Genk in Belgium.

He previously played for Western Province United and in October 2003 he went for trials at R.S.C. Anderlecht in Brussels Capital Region.

Midfielder

l Name: Thanduyise Khuboni

Club: Lamontville Golden Arrows

Age: 24

Khuboni has done well whenever given a run in the team, but to make the final cut at the expense of some more established stars was a bit of a surprise.