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BIG NAMES BACK FOR BAFANA BAFANA
Captain Aaron Mokoena and five other foreign-based players make their return to South Africa’s squad for the first time this year in a friendly against neighbours Namibia in Windhoek on Aug. 16.
Caretaker coach Pitso Mosimane on Tuesday brought back the Blackburn Rovers defender plus Bradley Carnell, Quinton Fortune, Steven Pienaar, Nasief Morris and MacBeth Sibaya to a squad of 21 for the match.
Mokoena pulled out of South Africa’s squad for January’s MTN Africa Cup of Nations finals while Fortune and Pienaar were injured for the tournament in Egypt. Carnell, Morris and Russian-based Sibaya were not selected.
Dutch-based striker Glen Salmon is recalled for the first time in six years.
South African Football Association officials said they hoped new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira would attend the match to see his new team in action. Parreira signed as coach last month but has yet to arrive in the country.
South Africa are to host the 2010 World Cup finals but Wednesday’s game is preparation for the start of the 2008 MTN Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on September 2.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Kaizer Chiefs), Calvin Marlin (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Bradley Carnell (Karlsruhe, Germany), Ricardo Katza (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Benoni Premier United), Vuyo Mere, Benson Mhlongo (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece), Cyril Nzama (Kaizer Chiefs)
Midfielders: Josta Dladla (Mamelodi Sundowns), Quinton Fortune (Bolton Wanderers, England), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nkosi (Kaizer Chiefs), Steven Pienaar (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Dillon Sheppard (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Strikers: Katlego Mashego.(SuperSport United), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England), Glen Salmon (FC Groningen, Netherlands), Gert Schalkwyk (Kaizer Chiefs).