Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim Mashaba has today announced the squad for two friendly international matches next month against Costa Rica on Thursday, 8 October 2015 at Boltodano Bricenio Stadium in Liberia and Honduras at Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday, 13 October.
The Costa Rica match will kick off at 04h00 SA time on Friday, 9 October while the one in Honduras will kick off at midnight in South Africa.
“This is the first time I will be leading this squad out of Africa and it is an exciting prospect. The main idea is to try and gauge our level of performance. Also I think it’s a good experience for us to play teams ranked above us like Costa Rica because to continue improving our rankings, we must play and beat the best,” said Mashaba.
This will be Bafana Bafana’s first ever meeting with Honduras while they have played Costa Rica once – in the Nelson Mandela Challenge clash on the 11th of October in 2003 at Olen Park Stadium in Potchefstroom. South Africa won 2-1, courtesy of second half goals from Siyabonga Nomvete and Patrick Mayo.
“We will do our best to go there and get victories. We want to take the Senegal outcome forward and try to win all the games going forward. But we have to be realistic and acknowledge that along the line we will encounter turbulence – win some and lose some, but our intention is to win all our games.”
Bafana Bafana squad
Goalkeepers: Jackson Mabokgwane, Itumeleng Khune, Ronwen Williams.
Defenders: Anele Ngcongca, Thabo Matlaba, Mzikayise Mashaba, Erick Mathoho, Clayton Daniels, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Siyabonga Nhlapo.
Midfielders: Andile Jali, Dean Furman, Bongani Zungu, Oupa Manyisa, Jabulani Shongwe, George Lebese, Mpho Makola, Ayanda Patosi, Mandla Masango, Thulani Serero, Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Striker: Prince Nxumalo, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Tokelo Rantie
