“I have a gut feeling”
Feverish activity on the last day to name the final 23.
Carlos Alberto Parreira names his SA squad and its highest scorer is not in it. Benni McCarthy joined training looking distinctly chubby, like Ronaldo, four years ago. Apparently his slim fast regime was not fast enough.
Aaron Mokoena celebrated a century of caps when he played Guatemala yesterday. Toffees standout Steven Pienaar, heads Bafana Bafana’s strength in the middle. Matthew Booth, the defender whose inspirational story of racial integration into a traditionally black sport, gets a call up. He will like to be remembered for his performances in the World Cup, not as a trendsetter.
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United), .
Defenders: Matthew Booth, Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Pirates).
Midfielders: Surprise Moriri, Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Teko Modise (Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Kaizer Chiefs), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows).
Strikers: Katlego Mphela (Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvethe (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Holland).