Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why he picked young Orlando Pirates midfielder Simphiwe Selepe for the friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique next month.
The 20-year-old has experienced a major rise at the Buccaneers, where he was still a ball boy in teh beginning of the year but broke into the first team in Jose Riveiro’s final matches.
Selepe is among the Pirates quartet that received their first full Bafana call-ups for the matches to be played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium next Friday and Loftus Versfeld on 10 June.
The youngster was only promoted to the Buccaneers first team in the second half of the Betway Premiership season that concluded on Thursday. He has played seven league matches and has a goal to his name.
Broos said he wasn’t swayed by the player’s age so much but more so his quality and abilities.
“I’ve always said age doesn’t matter,” said Broos on SABC TV.
“Quality, talent and when I see the last three, four games that Selepe played, I have to give him a chance. Again maybe it will be too soon, but that we can only see when we put him in the team and when he’s playing a game.
“So again, the opportunity is very good to do it and the age, okay, what’s the problem with the age he has the talent it’s up to him.
“What I like about Selepe, first of all he is a good midfielder and he is good in passing. He scored a goal, so he’s not only defensive, but he can also help the team offensively and he’s young.”
