Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has revealed his reasons for overlooking the Kaizer Chiefs duo of Keagan Dolly and Yusuf Maart for selection in his latest squad.
South Africa men's national team coach Hugo Broos on Thursday announced a 23-man squad to face Botswana and Sierra Leone in two international friendlies later this month, with Kaizer Chiefs' Kgaogelo Sekgota handed his first call-up.
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However, there was no place in the selection for Sekgota's club teammates Keagan Dolly and Yusuf Maart, who were both overlooked despite featuring in recent squads for Bafana Bafana.
The reason for this, Broos revealed, was due to theirs and Chiefs' struggles in the league this season, with the Amakhosi currently languishing in fourteenth position in the DStv Premiership standings, just two points above the relegation zone.
"I think Yusuf is a bit of a victim of the bad start of Chiefs, and the same with Dolly," the Belgian tactician explained. "Chiefs has not started the season well and when I see Yusuf playing, it's not really Yusuf from Sekhukhune (United).
"I think he is also struggling a little bit with confidence because the results are not there and that pressure is there, so let's wait for these friendly games, but he stays on the list for the next game.
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"If Yusuf can achieve his levels from Sekhukhune, then there is no problem. But now, I don't think it's a good thing to take him with the team because the confidence is not so big because of the results of Chiefs.
"Keagan didn't start very well with Chiefs – Chiefs didn't start very well," he added. "He was even on the bench. Keagan Dolly on the bench? There has to be a reason, and the reason is that Keagan at the moment is not playing at his level.
"It's a pity for him but I have to be severe in those kinds of things and not let my feelings talk. Keagan is not in good shape at the moment, so why should he be with us?"
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