AFCON snub fuels Pirates' Nemtajela's determination to return to national duty

ORLANDO Pirates midfielder Masindi Nemtajela has used his recent omission from the Bafana Bafana squad as motivation to drive his improvement, hoping to create more opportunities for future national team inclusion.

- OBAKENG MELETSE

The former Marumo Gallants player earned his first senior national team invitation last month after delivering a string of standout performances since joining the Buccaneers at the start of the campaign.

Although Nemtajela featured in Hugo Broos’ provisional squad, he did not make the final group - including the three standby players - announced at the beginning of the month for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

At 24, the midfielder has emerged as one of the standout performers under Abdeslam Ouaddou.

While earning a spot in the final squad was always going to be challenging - having only made his senior debut in November's 3-1 friendly win against Zambia he admitted he was not expecting much from this tournament in terms of selection.