Orlando Pirates’ good start to the season has been rewarded by the inclusion of eight Bucs players into the Bafana Bafana preliminary squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Coach Hugo Broos named his preliminary 38-man squad for the matches set to take place in November and while there were five new faces, only Mamelodi Sundowns with nine, had more players in the team than the eight of Pirates.
Goalkeeper, Sipho Chaine, defenders Nkosinathi Sibisi and Thabiso Sesane, midfielders Thalente Mbatha and Patrick Maswanganyi as well as forwards Relebohile Mofokeng, Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mabasa are part of the squad and will hope to retain their places once the final team of 23 is finally unveiled for their away fixture in Uganda on November 15 and home match against South Sudan four days later.
Who are the new faces in Hugo Broos’ squad?
Meanwhile, there were five players, who were either returning to the squad, or getting their maiden national team call-ups.
Stellenbosch goalkeeper Sage Stephens has received his first call-up while his team-mate Ashley Cupido returns to the fold and so is Polokwane City’s Thabang Matuludi and club-mate Rodney Maphangule. Richards Bay striker Yanela Mbuthuma has also made the squad.
Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sipho Mbule, who is on loan at Sekhukhune United, has been recalled for the first time since 2021, while Bongokuhle Hlongwane has received the nod for the first time this year.
Percy Tau, who is yet to feature in AFCON qualifiers over his uncertainty at his club Al Ahly, and defender Siyabonga Ngezana, who has returned from injury, also made the squad.