Bafana coach keen on recruiting foreign-based SA players

by Graeme Jackson

Friday May 29, 2020. 09:01

South Africa national team coach Molefi Ntseki has revealed that he is working hard behind the scenes to recruit foreign-based players for Bafana Bafana.

SA has a history of ‘importing’ eligible players who live or have grown up in foreign countries, with Dean Furman the most recent example.

In an interview with Sport24, Ntseki says he has been working on finding players such as Furman who can add quality and depth to his call-up options.

“I think we should be honest with ourselves and if we compare European facilities and expertise to South Africa in particular, these are two different environments,” Ntseki said.

“As South Africans, we are looking forward to more of our local players going overseas. I think in recent years you’ve seen a number of youngsters going to play in Europe which is good for us.”

The Bafana coach added, “As a former Under-17 and Under-20 national team coach I have seen a number of these players leave for Europe and we are encouraging them to go there and experience international football at that level.

“Still that is not enough. There are many other good players who we are not aware of that is of SA origin that could easily be recruited for Bafana Bafana and younger age groups.

“I’m actually working on it and its just unfortunate that when I was about to leave for Europe to start relations with these different teams, coaches and players the Covid-19 pandemic hit which put a halt to everything.

“We do have a network that we are using where we do get information on South African players that are based abroad every week each Monday.”

He continued, “If we gradually integrate the next two generations we will be refreshing, strengthening and taking Bafana Bafana to the next level.

“As much as we have local players that we are able to watch week in and week out, overseas-based players are also very important and we will follow up on such players.”