Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has made two forced replacements, despite his best efforts to ensure that his final squad would be problem-free.
Both Mamelodi Sundowns utility player Aubrey Modiba and Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi have been withdrawn from the squad.
Ndamulelo Maphangule of Polokwane City and Vuyo Letlapa, a left-back for Sekhukhune United, have taken their places.
Maswanganyi not fielded against Sundowns
“With Maswanganyi, I’m a bit angry because we only knew yesterday evening,” Broos said at a media briefing in Polokwane on Monday.
“From what I heard, he was already injured on Saturday, so he couldn’t play yesterday [Sunday against Sundowns]. So we had to look for someone else.
“If my information is right, he [Maswanganti] was injured at training. Everyone knew he was on the national team; a little call to say, ‘look, I’m injured and I can’t play tomorrow; I can’t be in the camp’. That gives us more time to look for another player.
“The first choice was [Sinoxolo] Kwayiba from Chippa, but he’s also injured his knee. Therefore, we have this guy here, Ndamulele [Maphangule].”
Modiba welcomes newborn baby
Modiba, on the other hand, is said to have reported for camp late on Monday but was granted leave after his wife gave birth on Monday.
“It’s been a long time since we started a camp with 23 players present. Aubrey Modiba is not here. He has something more important than being on a camp of the national team as his wife gave birth.”
“It [the baby] needs to be in the presence of the father. That is why Audrey is not here, but he might join us later. I think these things are more important in life than a qualification game for the World Cup.”
Bafana are currently in camp preparing for their upcoming Fifa World Cup qualifier match against Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday.
