Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why he didn’t call up Kaizer Chiefs’ in-form winger Mduduzi Shabalala in his squad to face Zambia.
Bafana will take on Chipolopolo on 15 November at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha at 18:00.
Broos explained he only opted for one friendly in the upcoming international break due to the overloaded Premier Soccer League calendar.
With Chiefs starting their CAF Confederation Cup campaign on top of their Betway Premiership commitments after the international break, Broos says he felt he wanted to give other players a chance this window.
“It is a moment that you can try and pick some other players,” Broos replied when asked about Shabalala, who has scored three goals and set up one more in Chiefs last four league games.
“And Nemtajela has made very good performances in Pirates. So I think I have to call him and see how he is behaving and training with the group.
“That’s why Shabalala is not there. It’s not a question of he’s not playing good or I don’t want him anymore – No!
“But again it’s the last game I do such things [give others a chance] and that’s the only reason that I just wanted to see Nemtajela in the team and how he is behaving, if he has already the level of Bafana Bafana.”
Shabalala made his Bafana debut in their last game against Rwanda, coming off the bench in the 89th minute of their 3-0 win. He was in the Bafana squad for the last two camps.