Head coach Hugo Broos has explained why he has opted against selecting Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Gaston Sirino, who is now eligible to represent Bafana Bafana.
Having spent five years playing in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Sirino collected his South African passport earlier this year, boasting both Uruguayan and South African citizenship.
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The creative attacker has made it no secret that he would be open to donning the green and gold of Bafana Bafana should he receive a call up.
Speaking on SABC Sport on Thursday, Broos has explained that the age factor is the reason he has not called up the now eligible Sirino.
"You know in Cameroon I had a lot of players with two nationalities, so for me it's not too important which nationality they are [born in], it's important that they have a South African nationality (eligible to play for South Africa)," Broos said.
"Then if he is a good player, why not should I not take him? For example, you talk about Sirino, you go again to a player who is 32 [years old].
"So, that means in two years it's 34, I don't think it's a good idea because you can have him maybe for Afcon and then you have to look again for another player because will he be as good as he is now in 2026, I don't know, we will see.
"So, I'd rather prefer to look at the other players so that you have that period of three, four, five years and knowing okay I can count them in and I don't have to worry about his age."
Bafana take on Eswatini on Friday, 13 October.
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