Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa still can’t make the final cut in the squad.
The Belgian tactician announced the final 23-man squad for the upcoming back-to-back AFCON qualifiers against Congo to take place later this month.
Both Tshegofatso Mabasa and Evidence Makgopa from the Buccaneers were omitted from the final selection despite being included in the preliminary squad.
Broos has faced criticism from many for overlooking Mabasa several times before despite the striker's consistent performance recently.
He explained that it’s difficult to sacrifice one of the centre forwards that he already has in his team.
Mabasa is competing for a place against his teammate Makgopa, Mamelodi Sundowns new signing Iqraam Rayners and Burnley FC’s Lyle Foster.
BROOS EXPLAINS CONSTANT EXCLUSION OF MABASA IN FINAL SQUADS
“I think I have to ask you a question for those who think Mabasa has to be with us, who do I take out? Iqraam? Lyle Foster?” Broos asked on SABC Sport.
“Iqraam scores goals. He moved from Stellenbosch to Mamelodi Sundowns, he scores and doesn't stop scoring goals. Mabasa is not like Rayners.
“In the case of Makgopa, I always have confidence in Makopa and I never understood why Makgopa was playing such a little number of games [at Pirates].
“You saw it at AFCON, Makgopa is a very good striker. Now for the moment, okay, there is another one. Mabasa, I can't say [to Jose Riveiro]: ‘No, you have to put Makgopa. No, Mabasa is scoring. That's the problem for Makgopa now for the moment.”
