Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has explained the surprise absence of midfielder Njabulo Blom and attacker Bongokuhle Hlongwane from the final 23-man squad that will be heading to AFCON.
After qualifying top of their group in the AFCON qualifiers, Broos's men are set to jet off to West Africa to participate in the continental showpiece to be hosted by Ivory Coast.
Ahead of the competition, Broos had named a 50-man preliminary squad, that has now been trimmed down to a final 23-man squad.
READ | 'They said no, forget it,' – Broos explains Foster's 'complicated' Bafana absence
Some surprise omission from the squad included that of US-based duo of Blom and Hlongwane, who were both regulars for their respective teams and for Bafana's qualifying campaign.
Blom made 43 appearances Bradley Carnell's St. Louis City, and although Hlongwane has struggled at Bafana, the 23-year-old has contributed an impressive 17 goals and five assists for Minnesota United.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday shortly after the squad announcement, Broos defended his decision to exclude the duo.
"The problem with these guys is that they haven't' been playing," Broos told journalists.
"The league stopped in October. Okay, they have been training, because Hlongwane is training with Maritzburg United and Blom is training with SuperSport [United] I think, but okay, they don't play games for two months.
"Don't forget that AFCON is a very intense tournament, you need the rhythm of the game. It's possible, but it's difficult after two months without a game and it will be two months and a half, because we only start AFCON (mid-January) and then suddenly, we have to be at a good level.
"I think it is very difficult and for me, it was difficult also to choose [to leave them out]. Yes I took my decision.
"I think for Hlongwane, he was not really convincing in the last games he played with us.
ALSO READ | Broos announces final Bafana squad for AFCON
Bafana kick-off their AFCON campaign with a Group E clash against Mali on 16 January before meeting Namibia on 21 January and wrapping up the group stage action against Tunisia on 24 January.
Before that, the squad is expected to report for camp on 4 January in Stellenbosch, to begin preparations for the competition.
Bafana will play a practice match against neighbours Lesotho on 10 January, before flying to Ivory Coast on 11 January.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!