Youthful Bafana for Cosafa

Gordon Igesund has opted for youth in the Bafana Bafana squad for the Southern African Cosafa Cup in Zambia next month.

Igesund said, after naming a 20-man squad in Johannesburg on Thursday, that regular number one goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune had been left out and defender Thabo Nthethe would lead the team.

“This is our senior national team and 50 percent are 23 and younger,” Igesund said. “We want to win the tournament, and get our ranking up. We need to get into the top 20 in the world and top three in Africa, and to do that we need to win games.”

Igesund opted for two goalkeepers, rather than three, in Khune's absence.

“There was a decision to take two keepers for three games," he said. “I also wanted to make sure I had extra players out there in other positions.”

Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers: Wayne Sandilands, Ronwen Williams. Defenders: Bevan Fransman, Thabo Nthethe (captain), Tefu Mashumaite, Eric Mathoho, Thulani Hlathshwayo, Tebogo Langerman, Tshepo Gumede.

Midfielders: Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Hlompho Kekana, Lebogang Manyama, Luyolo Nomandela, Jabulani Shongwe, Ruzaigh Gamildien.

Strikers: Katlego Mashego, Kermit Erasmus, Bernard Parker, Thabani Mthembu.

(File Photo: Gallo Images)

- Sapa

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