Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has hailed the burst of young talent onto the Betway Premiership scene, alluding to keeping tabs on more of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates' rising stars.
Although Broos named a final 23-man squad that included just one player under the age of 21 in Relebohile Mofokeng, he seems to be keeping one eye on the plethora of young talent coming through some of Mzansi's big clubs.
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Speaking to media ahead of Bafana's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier clash against Uganda, the Belgian had plenty of praise for the emergence of talent among the country's big teams, with particular mention of Amakhosi's Mduduzi Shabalala.
The 20-year-old has been in fine form for Chiefs this season, registering three goals and two assists in seven appearances.
"As you know, from the first day I was here, I was talking about young players, and we didn't have them at that moment," said Broos.
"When I saw the line-ups of the PSL teams at that time, it was all players around the age of 26 and 28 and more (older).
"And if you talked about a young player at that time, people came to me with names of players aged 26 and 27. Those were [deemed] young players at that moment.
Mduduzi Shabalala ????
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"So, I think I started something with the national team and proved that also young players can be very good and can achieve results, and I think that in the clubs, they are following a little bit my example when you see now [the number of young players in the Premiership].
"It's true what you are saying, that in every team now you find young players, and maybe it was easier for the small clubs to do that because they have to do it. Because it was a question of [not having] money to buy players.
"But now we are also seeing it in the big teams, Pirates, [Mamelodi] Sundowns, even Chiefs. Shabalala... all those players are young players. I think it's a good evolution because young players are the future," added the tactician.
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Broos had previously also mentioned Pirates' Mohau Nkota, who has had a brilliant start to his senior career, netting twice in his six appearances.
"It doesn't mean that they will never be at Bafana Bafana, it's just that you have to be careful with young players not to call them too soon.
"It's not good for a young player to call him to Bafana and then in the next three, four, five camps, you can't call him anymore because he is not playing anymore or maybe you saw...
"But I keep my eyes open certainly, and I'm very happy with what I see happening in the PSL."
Bafana's match against Uganda on Friday will kick-off at 15:00.