Skip to main content

Shabba back for Bafana


“It’s a great feeling to be called-up again,” enthuses Siphiwe Tshabalala after hearing about his call-up for Bafana Bafana. “It’s an honour to be back in the national team. I want to make a real contribution, as I don’t want to be there just to add numbers.”

Coach Stuart Baxter has also included Itumeleng Khune and Erick Mathoho in the South African national team squad.

It was Kaizer Chiefs’ administrational manager Abdulla Mayet, who informed the surprised, but elated ‘Shabba’ about the national call-up, which is for the two crucial 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Senegal on Friday, 10 November, and on Tuesday, 14 November 2017. The first game will be at Peter Mokaba Stadium (kick-off at 19:00), while the return match will be played at Dakar’s Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium (21:30).

The Chiefs midfielder has gained 88 caps for the South African national team, scoring 12 times.

“I have been working hard,” continues Tshabalala, who hasn’t played for Bafana for almost four years. “I continued to believe in myself. The key is consistency. I do what I love and I love football. Playing soccer is also not only about the individual, the team must come first. I hope that my experience as a player can help South Africa qualify for the World Cup in Russia.”

When queried about Bafana Bafana’s chances to still qualify for the 2018 World Cup, he comments, “I am very positive that we still stand an excellent chance.”

However, before the South African national team qualifiers, Kaizer Chiefs still have a few important matches coming up, with the first coming on Saturday, 28 October, in a Telkom Knockout Last 16 fixture against AmaZulu at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium.

“The Telkom Knockout is an opportunity for us to win some silverware,” the 33-year-old says. “The game against AmaZulu won’t be easy, but a win would bring us a step closer to our goal and that’s to win a trophy this season.”
Chiefs host AmaZulu in a game at home away from home at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, 28 October (kick-off is at 20:15).

Tickets are sold at TicketPro outlets nationwide for R40 adults and R15 juveniles. TicketPro outlets are found at Jet Mart Store, Edgars, CNA and select Spar and Postnet. Parking tickets cost R20.

Bafana Bafana squad

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Wayne Sandilands and Ronwen Williams.
Defenders: Thamsanqa Mkhize, Clayton Daniels, Erick Mathoho, Motjeka Madisha, Morgan Gould, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Tebogo Langerman and Sifiso Hlanti.
Midfielders: Hlompho Kekana, Dean Furman, Keagan Dolly, Andile Jali, Sibusiso Vilakazi, Themba Zwane, Bongani Zungu, Thulani Serero, Lebogang Manyama and Siphiwe Tshabalala.
Strikers: Percy Tau, Bradley Grobler and Dino Ndlovu.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Numbers: How Masuluke Lost To Arsenal Star

Oscarine Masuluke finished in second place according to numbers of votes for the goal that was nominated for the 2017 FIFA Puskas Awards, according to the South African Football Association. The Baroka FC goalkeeper’s goal made was in the final three of this year’s Puskas awards alongside Venezuelan starlet Deyna Castellanos, as well as the eventual winner in Olivier Giroud of Arsenal. SAFA confirmed how Masuluke’s goal did against some of the stars from big clubs from around the world. “After making the final cut of the 2017 FIFA Puskas awards, Baroka FC goalkeeper, Oscarine Masuluke was narrowly pipped by Arsenal and French forward Olivier Giroud at the awards ceremony held on Tuesday evening in London. “Masuluke’s breathtaking overhead kick against Orlando Pirates which even got a vote from athletics superstar Usain Bolt earned him a place at the glittering awards ceremony where he rubbed shoulders with world superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lione...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vilakazi: It’s Been A While Since Sundowns Tasted Glory

  Mamelodi Sundowns’ Sibusiso Vilakazi says that is has been a while since the Brazilians tasted glory but they will try their best to go all out and claim the Telkom Knockout Cup this season. Sundowns will lock horns with Chippa United later this month, October, in the round of 16 of the Telkom Knockout competition, with Head Coach Pitso Mosimane’s side keen to retain the trophy which they last won in 2015. Speaking after the TKO draw took place, Vilakazi revealed that after Sundowns failed to progress further than the quarter-final stages of the MTN8 competition, the Telkom Knockout will be an opportunity for the Chloorkop-based club to dust themselves off.  “It’s been a while since we tasted glory, in the form of a trophy on the domestic league. We will try by all means to get this one for the team, for ourselves and for the supporters. But with that said, we aren’t looking forward too much. We will take it one game at a time. First, there is Chip...
Post a Comment
Read more

We’re Going There For A Win

This week, we hear from Supporters Club Committee Member Masilo Machaka on the TKO last 16 results, as well as the upcoming quarter-final round.     On the Telkom Knockout Last 16 results    Firstly, I’ll start off with the encounter between Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu. I think the Chiefs players played their hearts out, they showed character on the day and there was unity amongst them. They played for the badge of Kaizer Chiefs and I commend them for that. What really caught me by surprise though was the game between Chippa United and Mamelodi Sundowns. Who would have thought that Sundowns would be knocked out of the tournament in the early stages? I don’t know how their supporters are feeling after the performances of their beloved team over the past few weeks and I’m sure they are asking themselves, ‘What’s next?’ They are out of the Telkom Knockout, but that’s football. Football is unpredictable – you win some and you lose some. Ha...
Post a Comment
Read more