How is that the national selectors could not find a place for any of the Stellenbosch FC players in the Bafana Bafana squad doing duty at the Cosafa Cup right now?
The squad is managed by U23 head coach David Notoane, who has obviously selected a key group of his U23 players that he wants to give a run and start forming some combinations for the Olympic qualifiers.
That’s all good and well.
However, there should be space made for players who fall just outside of the regular Bafana barometer because they play in the NFD.
The NFD does not get enough credit for giving footballers the necessary experience and training for the next level.
Which brings me to my point of how 23-year-old NFD top scorer Iqraam Rayners did not get a shot to taste national football before it’s too late?
Somehow they found a place for another NFD striker Lerato Lepasa, just because he scored the winner in the Nedbank Cup Final for TS Galaxy, where he is on loan? Or is it maybe because he’s an Orlando Pirates player?
Lepasa is a year younger than Rayners, so I fail to understand why he would get the nod ahead of a man who’s truly in top form.
With the scarcity of reliable leftbacks available in SA football, I’m surprised a guy like Stellies’ Zwelethu Ndlovu is not being given a chance.
This guy has been a regular feature in the NFD for the past four years, so he has paid his dues and is the ideal kind of guy to give the chance to make the jump up.
There’s even a case for a guy like seasoned defender Jarrod Moroole, although his 27 years of age is a factor, he has done his bit to at least get a chance to experience training at that level.
Big up to the Ajax Cape Town’s trio of goalkeeper Darren Johnson, defender Thendo Mukumela and midfielder Grant Margeman, who made the cut.
Special mention to 21-year-old Cape Town City centreback Keanu Cupido, who was also called up.