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Ngcongca eyes Bafana return

When the new Bafana Bafana coach is finally announced next week, there will be a number of PSL players eager to impress the new man - to break into the team, keep their places or make a return.

One man who has his eyes set on a return to Bafana is Mamelodi Sundowns right-back Anele Ngcongca, who is back in time from a long term injury to first fight for a place in the starting XI at club level and then impress national team selectors.

But he first has to get ahead of Thapelo Morena in the Sundowns starting line-up before thinking about making a return to the national team.

Ngcongca, 29, last played for Bafana in March last year during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers - a 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Limbe.

"I want to work my way back into the national team. I have to catch up and try to play as much as I can [at club level].

Hopefully, the new coach that comes in will be alert about the players who are doing well in the league.

"It's always great to play for the national team. As a kid I dreamt of playing for the national team, so I can't just throw in the towel."

Safa will announce a new coach within the next week, and one of the men linked with the job is Hugo Broos, who recently won the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.

Ngcongca worked with Broos in Belgium at former club Genk and has tons of respect for the man who cares about the well-being of his players. Broos is said to be one of the five candidates Safa is targeting.

"I was surprised to see Hugo Broos's name [linked with Bafana]. I have worked with him and he was the one who gave me an opportunity at Genk in 2007. He's a good coach. If it happens that he gets the job, I will be happy for him," said Ngcongca.

"He's the kind of coach who mingles with players. He's not only concerned about football, he asks about family matters too. He makes sure that his players are relaxed and that they are welcome to talk to him."

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