Broos faces pleasant selection headache

BAFANA Bafana will begin their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations next month in Morocco with an international friendly against Zambia next Saturday — at a venue yet to be announced by SAFA.

- MIHLALI BALEKA

Coach Hugo Broos faces a crucial few days ahead of that clash, as he prepares to name his final 23-man squad at SAFA headquarters in Johannesburg today.

While the Belgian mentor is expected to stick largely with his tried-and-tested core, a few inform players are making strong cases for inclusion. One such player is Kaizer Chiefs’ Mduduzi Shabalala, who has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks.

The 21-year-old has made the most of his opportunities at club level, impressing with goals, assists and an increasingly mature all-round game.

Having been called up late in the last two Bafana camps to replace injured players, Shabalala now looks ready for a full call-up on merit.

His performances have come at the perfect time, particularly with Relebohile Mofokeng still nursing an injury that saw him miss the crucial World Cup qualifier earlier this month.