If Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund is to fulfil his mandate of reaching the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals in January, he's going to have to do it without Steven "Schillo" Pienaar.

The Bafana captain, South Africa's best player and best export of the past 10 years, wrote a letter to Igesund and SA Football Association CEO Robin Petersen on Monday declaring his retirement from international football.

Igesund announced Pienaar's retirement at the squad announcement at Safa House yesterday for Bafana's friendlies against Poland in Warsaw on October 12 and Kenya in Nairobi on October 16.

Pienaar is believed to have contacted Igesund through his agent, Rob Moore, last week asking to be excused from certain friendlies ahead of the Nations Cup in South Africa in January because his "body was tired".

Igesund allegedly informed the player that as far as the coach was concerned he was still available for selection, and the team's captain, and would be called up for this month's friendlies.

Defender Bongani Khumalo, who led the team against Brazil and Mozambique, is the new captain. Pienaar missed those two matches last month with a claimed injury, though he turned out for Everton in their following fixture.

Pienaar's letter read: "It is with regret that I wish to advise you that I am no longer available for selection to represent South Africa.

"After having given more than 10 years' service to the national team I am now at a stage where physically I am struggling to balance the demands of playing in England with the number of games required by the national team.

"I am proud to have represented and captained my country, and for this I sincerely thank you and wish the team all the best in the future."

Igesund asked for the public to respect the Bafana midfielder's decision.

Asked if he would attempt to meet Pienaar, as he had goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, who Igesund coaxed out of retirement two months ago, Igesund said the door was not closed on any player.

"I think Josephs and Pienaar's situations are different. For Pienaar it's because his body is tired. But it's very important for the national coach to remain in contact with Steven. He might have a change of mind after six weeks.

"When I do visit England I will go and see him. Have a chat to him, just see what he's thinking."

Igesund made nine changes from the squad that did duty against Brazil and Mozambique.

There was a surprise recall for Maritzburg United midfielder Delron Buckley, but no space for Aaron Mokoena.

Other new inclusions were defenders Thabo Nthethe of Celtic, Swallows' Luvhengo Mungomeni and Slovakia-based Ricardo Nunes.

In midfield, Chiefs' George Lebese and Pirates' Sifiso Myeni have been added, and so has Malmo scorer Tokelo Rantie.

BAFANA SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates)

Defenders: Bevan Fransman (SuperSport United), Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic), Siyabonga Sangweni (Pirates), Eric Mathoho (Chiefs), Punch Masenamela (Sundowns), Luvhengo Mungomeni (Moroka Swallows), Bongani Khumalo (PAOK, Greece) captain: Ricardo Nunes (MSK Zilina, Slovakia)

Midfielders: Oupa Manyisa, Sifiso Myeni (both Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalalala, George Lebese (all Chiefs), Teko Modise (Sundowns), Delron Buckley (Maritzburg United), Katlego Mashego (Free State Stars), May Mahlangu (Helsingborg, Sweden), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace, England), Dean Furman (Oldham Athletic, England)

Strikers: Lerato Chabangu (Swallows), Bernard Parker (Chiefs), Dino Ndlovu (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Tokelo Rantie (Malmo, Sweden)