A look at the new prospects hoping to break into Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana squad

The era of new Bafana Bafana under coach Pitso Mosimane is being built on a blend of continuity and a fresh start. His preliminary squad for this month’s two AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, as well as next month’s international friendly, consists of both familiar and new faces.

With the usual suspects having proven their individual and collective capabilities by leading the team to a historic FIFA World Cup knockout stage, we take a look at what the newcomers and returnees could bring if they make the final squad.

Yanela Mbuthuma:

Mbuthuma is a box-to-box striker capable of holding up play, creating for his teammates, and finishing passes inside the box. He has shown great dynamism in his last two matches, providing assists on the run following counter-attacks.

Cemran Dansin:

Dansin is a creative midfielder who excels in finding pockets of space, providing fluidity to the engine room. He controls the game’s tempo with ease and possesses a knack for scoring, having won the Betway Premiership Goal of the Season last campaign.

Tshepo Mashiloane:

Mashiloane is comfortable on the ball and can pace up and down the flank as a left-back. He consistently gets into the right channels to offer attacking support and poses an aerial threat due to his height.

Puso Dithejane:

Dithejane is an efficient winger who moves up and down the flank with ease. Having grown significantly during his time with Chicago Fire this season, he is adept at executing passes, finding the right channels, and both scoring and creating goals for his teammates.

Shandre Campbell:

Naturally a dynamic winger, Campbell has shown an impeccable ability to take on defenders and score from range, particularly when cutting in on his deft left foot. He also brings tactical flexibility, as he can play in multiple positions.

Lebone Seema:

Seema was crowned the Betway Premiership Defender of the Season last campaign. He was rewarded for his ability to read the game, make timely tackles, execute accurate diagonal passes, and provide defensive leadership.

Tashreeq Matthews:

Matthews displays a mature approach to his game. He runs between the lines, picks out teammates with precision, and has a knack for goal. His slim stature makes him relatively quick both on and off the ball.

Ronaldo Van Neel:

Van Neel possesses pace and can run at defenders with ease, providing his teammates with a wide range of options when in possession. He also employs trickery, which enables him to eliminate markers as he finds space.

Lebohang Maboe:

Maboe is a master of the engine room. He serves as the vital link between defence and attack, utilising a neat passing range for both short and long-distance deliveries. He recently scored his first goal of the season for Kaizer Chiefs, which should boost his confidence.

Luther Singh:

Singh is a highly dynamic player. He can play in multiple positions up front, making his strengths unpredictable for opponents. He has shown a consistent appetite for goal, which could provide a valuable solution for the team.

Fawaaz Basadien:

Basadien is an effective left-back. He can sprint forward, while his impeccable footwork allows him to string together passes. His ability to exploit spaces also makes him deadly up front.

Cassius Mailula:

Mailula is fantastic on the ball. He weaves past his markers with sheer ease and brilliance, while he can also exploit pockets of space. He has an appetite for goals, as he can score from both close and long range.

Brooklyn Poggenpoel:

Poggenpoel is good at holding the midfield arc. He controls the tempo of the game and can easily help in defence as well. He brings comfort to both the defensive and attacking units, thanks to his prowess on and off the ball.