Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis has revealed that star striker Thembi Kgatlana was left out of the squad due to her Club World Cup commitments in Mexico.
On Friday afternoon, Ellis named her 24-woman squad for the upcoming friendly internationals against Botswana and Zambia on 28 May and 3 June, respectively.
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Kgatlana and her club Tigres UANL Femenil are partaking in the Club World Cup and are in the semifinals against Portland Thorns FC.
The pacey South African forward has been instrumental in the club’s passage to the last four scoring in their 4-0 thumping of Monterrey as well as in the 7-1 crushing of Frazsiers Whip.
“Thembi has club commitments,” Ellis told SABC Sport after her squad announcement.
“She plays in the CONCACAF Championship to qualify for the Club World Cup. She plays on the 22nd then she plays on the 25th and that’s very close and we also have to makeshift so that we take care of the players.
“So, they play Portland Thorns FC on the 22nd, and if they either win or lose that game, they play a third or final playoff, either against Club America or Gotham.
“And I think, two games in three days, and then still traveling and then another two games, you have to take care of the body.
“It’s been a very long season for them; that’s the reason we have taken Thembi out for club commitments.”
