PSL star misses Bafana Bafana call-up over lack of passport

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PSL star misses Bafana Bafana call-up over lack of passport
FIFA 2022 World Cup Qatar, Qualifier: Bafana Bafana Training Session and press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - OCTOBER 11: Hugo Broos coach of Bafana Bafana during the South African national soccer team training session and press conference at FNB Stadium on October 11, 2021 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Gallo1788550

A PSL player has missed out on a spot in the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers for lacking a passport.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos revealed on Thursday that TS Galaxy defender Khulumani Ndamane had been selected to the national team but was dropped after it was revealed that he does not have a passport.

The 20-year-old was among younger options that Broos was looking at to help reduce the average age of his aging defence but he missed out for lacking the necessary travel document ahead of Bafana Bafana’s home match against Lesotho on March 21 before they play away to Benin four days later.

Broos saddened by players ‘not in order’

Khulumani Ndamane of TS Galaxy.

“First of all, I was a little bit surprised at the beginning of the week when Helman [Mkhalele] and I were looking at the age of our defenders,” Broos told the media while unveiling his final 23-man squad on Thursday.

“We are rather old; we have some young ones that we wanted to see but the problem is you play qualifiers. You can’t afford experiments, so they have to wait.

“He [Ndamane] was in the team but he does not have a passport. I heard the chairman of the team [Tim Sukazi] saying last week that I have to take more Galaxy players of Galaxy. I want to take them but they do not have passports.

“I am very sorry about that but it is not the first time. Those guys are losing out on selection in the national team because they are not in order. They know that they are on that list. If you don’t have a passport, go and get a passport,” Broos further said.

What next for Bafana Bafana?

Hugo Broos fires warning to Bafana Bafana players ahead of Congo return tie
Bafana Bafana players – Picture courtesy of Facebook/Bafana Bafana/South Africa

A Kaizer Chiefs youth product, Ndamane has been impressive for Galaxy this season, playing 21 matches across all competitions, for the Adnan Beganovic-coached side.

Ndamane will have to watch from a distance as Bafana Bafana fight for a World Cup ticket in their next two games with victory needed to stay in touch with the other contenders.

South Africa are tied on seven points in Group C with Rwanda and Benin while Lesotho have five and Nigeria with three from the four matches played.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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