Steve Barker says it augurs well to see three Stellenbosch players named in Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations finals preliminary squad before it is whittled down to the manageable 23 by coach Hugo Broos.
On Thursday, Bafana coach Broos announced a 50-man squad that will be trimmed to a manageable 23 at the beginning of the year shortly before they depart to Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The three players from Stellies are Fawaaz Basadien, Jayden Adams, and striker Iqraam Rayners. They have been on form to lead Stellenbosch to the final of the Carling Knockout where they will face TS Galaxy at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday (15:00).
It gives them a huge shop window to further impress coach Broos in the winner-takes-all-match.
Interestingly, Broos’ side will assemble for a camp in Stellenbosch, familiar to them all, starting on the 4 January, until the 9th of the same month, as was previously revealed by this website.
For Basadien, it is the first time he has been at this stage, but it is not first selections for a recalled Rayners, and Adams,who was part of the Bafana squad last month.
“It is nice for us to have three players to be in the preliminary squad – Fawaaz, Iqraam, and Jayden,” said Barker.
“But knowing all three players, they are consistently good performers, so I think it is more of an opportunity not to make your names, it is an opportunity, if they are in that squad, it shows that there is opportunity to be in the AFCON (final) squad.
“I’m sure it is every player’s dream to be there, so I do believe that they will go out and put their best foot forward and put the best performance they can. Hopefully, that would be enough to make the final squad.”
With Stellies unbeaten in nine matches now and lying third in the DStv Premiership, Barker said more of his players could have been on the list, including his goalkeeper Sage Stephens in goals.
“I’m a little bit disappointed because maybe we deserve to (have) the 55-man squad and that they (some) are not there,” said Barker.
“But I just keep telling the players that perform the best that you can in each game and by doing that, you will get recognition and slowly we are getting recognition for that, and I’m pleased for those who have been selected. Hopefully, we can get some in the final squad.”
