Kaizer Chiefs left-back Bradley Cross has continued to improve since joining the Soweto giants last season.
Coming from Golden Arrows, the 24-year-old Kempton Park-born defender was included in Hugo Broos’ preliminary Bafana Bafana AFCON squad.
Cross’ development, his coach at Mpumalanga Black Aces, Tony Dias, said it was great to see one of his former players doing well.
“To get that recognition is huge for us, as it provides a point of referral for our club,” Dias told KickOff.
“It gives credit to the fact that the work we are doing here at the club is worth it. Seeing our boys progressing is what we strive for; it is what we live for as a development club after all,” he added.
Cross has owned the left-back position at Chiefs
“We are not here to win trophies but to provide the path to move to professional football. Bradley had an all-around development, and it is showing in his game, especially for us who moved him from an offensive position to a defensive position at a young age,” Dias said.
Cross has played 13 matches for Kaizer Chiefs this season despite stiff competition from Paseka Mako and Nkhayisa Shinga.
Can Cross’ performance at Kaizer Chiefs earn him an AFCON spot?
The 24-year-old has been named a few times in the preliminary Bafana squads but has yet to make a debut in the national team colours.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos will likely select Samukele Kabini and Aubrey Modiba at left-back in his final 23-man squad. An injury to one, however, could see Cross called up to the squad for the tournament.