Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has responded to questions why no players from Kaizer Chiefs have made his squad to face Morocco.
The Belgian tactician named his final 23-man squad to face Africa’s highest ranked team – sitting in 11th spot in the overall FIFA rankings – in their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on 17 June.
However, there were no players from Chiefs, who traditionally had a stronghold on the national team, in the final selection, let alone the 34-man preliminary squad.
Previously, players such as Yusuf Maart, Brandon Petersen, Kgaogelo Sekgota and S’fiso Hlanti made the selection, as did Keagan Dolly and Ashley Du Preez, but both have been sidelined with injury.
However, Broos insisted he cannot just pick players based on the popularity of the club after Chiefs only finished in fifth place in the DStv Premiership following a disappointing end to their 2022/23 campaign.
“You know there are only 23 players to choose, hey,” he said, when asked why there are not players from arguably one of the “most popular club’s in the country”.
“So if you are going to choose players because they are playing in the ‘biggest team of the country’, then I have to choose 30 players.
“That is not possible.”
DStv Premiership champions Sundowns currently have the most players in Broos’ squad, with eight players, followed by Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United with three, respectively. AmaZulu, Sekhukhune United and TS Galaxy each have one player, while the rest of the Bafana stars (6) are coming from overseas-based clubs.
South Africa will take on Morocco at the FNB Stadium, Chiefs home ground, on 17 June at 17:00.
Both teams have already qualified for next year’s AFCON – Morocco after wining their first two games against Liberia and South Africa, while Broos’ men booked their ticket in the last international window after collecting a draw and a win over Liberia, meaning the Lone Stars cannot overtake them on the log based on the head-to-head rule.
