Ntseki cautious about handing Bafana caps to foreign-born players

Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has indicated that he is content with only issuing out national call-ups to South African-born players so far.

A couple of foreign-born stars plying their trade in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) have made themselves available for potential Bafana call-ups, with Kaizer Chiefs’ Serbian striker Samir Nurkovic and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Gaston Sirino the two most high-profile names.

Putting South African players first 

However, Ntseki has urged caution against sidelining homegrown talent in favour of imports.

“The attention that we are giving is to profile South African players,” said Ntseki.

“We must be very careful. Let me make an example about Sirino and Nurkovic. Are we giving enough attention to what we have before we can move for a player that has to be naturalised? Are we comparing that player with what we have in the country and giving opportunities to what we have in the country?”

Molefi Ntseki, Bafana Bafana coach

Nurkovic arrived in South Africa ahead of the start of the 2019/20 season, having spent the previous campaign in Slovakia’s second tier.

In his debut PSL season, he has netted 11 goals, and is second only to Malawian international Gabadinho Mhango, who has scored 14 league goals for Orlando Pirates.

Sirino, on the other hand, has slightly more experience plying his trade in South Africa’s top flight, having joined Sundowns in 2018.

The Uruguayan playmaker has been in among the standout players in the country, with coach Pitso Mosimane vocal in his desire to see him don Bafana colours.

Ntseki has, however, not ruled out calling up foreign-born players in the future.

“For me, it is a very long process that has to be done properly without emotions but we should be highly tactical and technical to decide on such players. It might not be Ntseki alone doing this but it has to be done in a right manner,” he said.

Molefi Ntseki, Bafana Bafana coach