Pirates players step up as Bafana prepare for friendlies

WITH Mamelodi Sundowns players not being included in the current Bafana Bafana setup ahead of two friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique, it is not a secret that a lot of the weight to lead the side will be carried by Orlando Pirates' stars.

- MALIBONGWE MDLETSHE

Bafana play Tanzania at Peter mokaba Stadium on Friday night, 7.30pm kick-off before taking on Mozambique at Loftus on Tuesday.

The positive news coming from Polokwane, where the national team set-up camp, is that they - Pirates players themselves, seem to understand the duty upon their shoulders quite well.

Bafana coach Hugo Broos himself made it all clear on Monday when he named Pirates defender and one of the Betway Premiership side's leaders, Nkosinathi Sibisi, as his stand-in skipper in the absence of Sundowns goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams.

Leading the defence for Bafana alongside Sibisi is expected to be the likes of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Deano van Rooyen, who both played crucial roles getting Pirates to the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League.