Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi says Grant Kekana is not injured and Hugo Broos must be given the freedom of his Bafana Bafana selection.
Kekana was a surprise absence from the squad that was announced by Broos on Thursday afternoon, with Siyabonga Ngezana, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Rushwin Dortley and his Sundowns teammate Mothobi Mvala as the four selected central defenders.
The 32-year-old was an integral part of the Bafana squad that finished third place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and played 90 minutes in both games against Congo Brazzaville in the previous international break.
He stated it was a ‘matter of choice’ to leave Kekana out and a ‘tough decision’ to make as he selected the final 23-man squad.
“You must make the tough choices, and they are not always nice — not only for me but for the player. So, this is just a choice that I made, and I hope it was the right choice,” Broos said after the squad was confirmed.
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Mngqithi says perhaps it was just preference for Ngezana at FCSB in Romania, who has been in fine form since his move to Europe.
“Grant is not injured, probably the coach just decided [to leave him out],” he said when asked by iDiski Times for the status of the defender.
“Even in the previous FIFA break, before the last one, he was out and Ngezana was in the team, and this time Ngezana was out and he brought Grant in and he played well.
“I do believe we should give the coach the freedom to choose his team the way he wants it in that space.”
Bafana Bafana take on Uganda in Kampala and South Sudan in Cape Town next week for their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
