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The friendly games against Algeria and Andorra next week will give an indication of how Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos intends to refresh his squad.
After all, the Belgian mentor guided Bafana to an Afcon podium finish with a squad mainly built around players older than 30.
Still, the team exceeded South Africans’ wildest expectations as Bafana returned with a bronze medal.
READ: 'The way I see football makes people angry' - Hugo Broos
Goalkeepers Ronwen Williams and Veli Mothwa are both 32, defenders Siyanda Xulu and Thapelo Morena are both 30, while midfielders Themba Zwane and Thabang Monare are 34.
Attacking midfielder-cum-striker Percy Tau, defenders Mothobi Mvala and Nyiko Mobbie, as well as goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, turn 30 this year.
And with next year’s Afcon tournament in Morocco and the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US on the horizon, it’s inevitable that there would be changes to this team.
In a round-table discussion with journalists shortly after the Afcon finals in Ivory Coast last month, Broos promised to use this month’s international window to refresh the team with new faces.
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This week, the 71-year-old kept his word when he named a 32-player preliminary squad for a pilot project called Fifa Series, in Algeria.
The mini tournament runs from 18 to 26 March.
It will be Bafana’s first camp since they beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 6-5 on penalties in the Afcon third-place play-off match last month.
The new faces in the provisional team include exciting AmaZulu attacker Tshepang Moremi.
The 23-year-old has been one of Usuthu’s best performers this season, featuring in 18 of their 19 league games as well as in two Carling Knockout Cup matches.
Sekhukhune United winger Elias Mokwana is another promising talent in the preliminary squad. The 24-year-old attacking midfielder, together with Sibongiseni Mthethwa of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates defender Tapelo Xoki and Stellenbosch striker Iqraam Rayners, were the Afcon backup players.
READ: Bafana coach Hugo Broos makes excuses after shock defeat to Rwanda
While Mokwana, Xoki and Rayners were back campers, Mthethwa was not called up this time.
Another fresh face in the Bafana set-up is Golden Arrows defender Bradley Cross, one of the few shining lights despite the team’s struggles.
The 23-year-old was also drafted in the 50-player Afcon preliminary squad.
While Broos has retained the majority of the Afcon squad – but without Tau and Grant Kekana – most of the other call-ups are familiar faces.
The list has Bruce Bvuma (Chiefs), Grant Magerman (SuperSport United), Innocent Maela, Patrick Maswanganyi (both Pirates), Goodman Mosele (Chippa United), Moremi, Mlondi Mbanjwa (both AmaZulu), Rayners (Stellenbosch), Mokwana (Sekhukhune United) and Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB, Romania).
Broos said:
Polokwane City striker Appollius and Adams of Stellensbosch are both 22.
Also, Broos put his neck on the block with Ngezana, saying the Chiefs reserve team graduate was unfortunate to miss out on the Afcon tournament, despite the defender playing well in Romania.
READ: ‘I’ll kill for Helman’ – Hugo Broos
Bafana play their first match against Andorra at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba in Algeria, on 21 March. They then face the hosts at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers on 26 March. Broos will announce his final squad in the coming days.
