Despite being one of the most consistent players in the PSL, SuperSport United winger Aubrey Modiba was not able to make it into the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
Modiba was part of the senior national team set up during the AFCON qualifiers and, after another impressive season with Matsatsantsa A Pitori, many would have expected the player who is linked with a move to Mamelodi Sundowns to at least be part of the provisional squad.
Modiba gives coaches the option of playing him either at left-back or further up the field on the wing, but he was just not able to get into the squad.
The former Mpumalanga Black Aces player played 35 matches in all competitions, contributing five goals and 11 assists.
"Because he has been around all the time of course he's in the picture. I've only got the number of players that I've got and when we select this larger squad we have to have some idea of what the squad may be going forward," Bafana coach Stuart Baxter said.
"Aubrey gives us three players in one, so he really is a player you'd like to have in the squad, but trying to find a balance and trying to accommodate everybody… I mean you could also use Bradley Grobler. Bradley has been outstanding for me when I at SuperSport and when I called into the national team, so for that sort of player you'd love to make room, but I just can't accommodate everybody.
"Aubrey's all-round versatility would be very nice to have, but who do you leave out? Do you leave out a normal left-back or one of the wide midfield players? His versatility maybe works against him in this case. But I like Aubrey."