Bafana Bafana are hoping to adopt two uncapped Europeans ahead of Afcon 2019.
Coach Stuart Baxter named defensive duo Joel Untersee and Nikola Taveres in his 29-man provisional squad for the tournament in Egypt next month.
Rightback Untersee (25), on loan at FC Zurich from Italian club Empoli, and 20-year-old Crystal Palace centreback Taveres were both born in South Africa and were youth internationals for Switzerland and Croatia respectively.
But Baxter is in a race against time to get their South African passports ahead of Caf’s June 11 cutoff for a final 23-man squad.
Baxter explains: “Nikolas Tavares is the last name in my Afcon squad pending his papers applications.
EURO EXPERIENCE: Joel Untersee. Photo: Supplied.
“After this I’m going to Pretoria to try and get assistance for his papers.
“If the passports of Tavares and Joel don’t come through, at least we have Rama [Ramahlwe Mphahlele] with experience.
“I’d rather have him than someone untested. Rama now also has a chance to fight and say no, I’m not staying behind.”
Untersee and Taveres will be joined by seven foreign-based players in the Bafana training camp.
Bafana Afcon 2019 provisional squad:
Goalkeepers:
Darren Keet (Wits), Rowen Williams (SuperSport), Bruce Bvuma (Chiefs).
Defenders:
Daniel Cardoso, Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Chiefs), Rivaldo Coetzee (Sundowns), Thulani Hlatshwayo, S’Fiso Hlanti, Buhle Mkhwanazi (all Wits), Thamsanqa Mkhize (CT City), Innocent Maela (Pirates).
Midfielders:
Bongani Zungu (Amiens), Hlompho Kekana, Tiyani Mabunda, Themba Zwane (all Downs), Dean Furman (SuperSport), Kamohelo Mokotjo (Brentford), Thulani Serero (Vitesse), Thembinkosi Lorch, Ben Motshwari (Pirates), Fortune Makaringe (Maritzburg), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier).
Strikers:
Lebo Mothiba (Strasbourg), Percy Tau (Royal St Union), Lars Veldwijk (Sparta Rotterdam), Lebogang Maboe, Sibusiso Vilakazi (Downs), Kermit Erasmus (CT City).