Local stars in Bafana Bafana squad

Limpopo boasts no fewer than four players in the squad selected by Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba to be part of the squad that will play against Mauritania and Egypt in back-to-back matches.
Gift Motupa, Hlompho Kekana, Ramahlwe Mphahlele and newcomer Maphosa Modiba will add their talent and skills to that of the team when they round off their 2017 Gabon Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Mauritania on 2 September at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
A statement released by South African Football Association (Safa) informed that a second match will see South Africa hosting Egypt in the 22nd edition of the Nelson Mandela Challenge, which will be played at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on 6 September.
This will be Modiba’s first international call-up at senior level having returned from the Rio Olympics in Brazil with the u.23 national team. The Mankweng-born soccer star is quoted to have said he was delighted to represent the country and grateful to be selected for these important matches. “The call-up is the result of hard work and dedication and all this started through the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search,” Maphosa said.
Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search is the largest football talent search in South Africa and over the years has produced lot of soccer players who are currently playing their trade at Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs.
The rise to the top for Modiba began in 2014 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium where the Ke Yona Team selectors identified him as a raw talent worth noting.
From then on Modiba has been exceptional in his rise to the top, helping his team, Mpumalanga Black Aces finish fourth in the 2015/16 PSL season and being voted PSL Young Player of the Season and stamping his authority on South African football. Modiba is now regarded as one of the most trusted footballers to fly the South African flag in one of the most crucial matches for the senior national team as they aim for Afcon qualification.
Kekana who hails from Zebediela, Motupa and Mphahlele from Ga-Maja and Seleteng respectively and have been in the national team before.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
>>herbert@mailbox.co.za

Featured photo: Maphosa Modiba.