Snl24 | Big 3 stars missing
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 30: Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele during the 2022 African Nations Championship qualifier match between South Africa and Comoros at Dobsonville Stadium on July 30, 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Former South African international Benson Mhlongo has reacted to Helman Mkhalele’s 2024 COSAFA Cup squad, after he was faced with the decision of trimming a whopping 27 players from the preliminary squad.
Hugo Broos’ assistant coach Mkhalele will be in charge of the 23-member squad that will compete in this year’s COSAFA Cup.
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The regional tournament will be held in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, from 26 June to 7 July.
Mhlongo, who worked as assistant coach at former club Orlando Pirates after his playing days, says he understands the reason behind Mkhalele’s decision to pick the players he went with.
Most notably, no players from either of Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs have made the cut.
“I had the privilege to meet coach Mkhalele recently, and now I understand his intentions,” ‘Mayanga’ tells KickOff.
“Thabo Moloisane, the centre-back from Stellenbosch FC, he’s grown. I’ve been following this boy since his days at Cape Town All Stars, and for me, he is showing progress and he is still young.
“What they are doing, the Bafana coaches, they are exposing this generation to international football, a generation that might, in the future, replace the current Bafana Bafana players,” he goes on.
Mhlongo adds that there is a purpose behind the former Bafana winger’s decisions and that this needs to be respected.Ā
“Coach Mkhalele wouldn’t just pick anyone for the sake of adding numbers. He respects himself, he respects his job, he respects the country.
“He would never do things just to please us, he will do things for the progress.
“We always hammer him and Hugo Broos because we not understanding the concept of what they are trying to achieve.
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“So, this is the new generation that they are trying to prepare for the national team.”
Bafana open their COSAFA Cup account next Wednesday against Mozambique.
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