Khumalo Makes COSAFA Squad Changes
Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma has been replaced by Chippa United goalkeeper Darren Johnson in the Bafana Bafana COSAFA Cup squad.
The reason for this change, made by coach Vela Khumalo, remains unknown. Bvuma’s teammate, Mdu Shabalala, has also joined the young Bafana Bafana side, which is based in Bloemfontein for the tournament.
Meanwhile, Khumalo expressed satisfaction after conducting his first training session with the players in Bloemfontein on Monday. South Africa is continuing its preparations for the 2025 COSAFA Cup and will open their campaign against Mozambique in their first Group A match at the Free State Stadium on Wednesday.
Khumalo’s charges have been drawn against Mauritius, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique in the group stage.
Fresh from securing South Africa’s qualification for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile at the recent U17 Africa Cup of Nations, Khumalo is aiming for a strong challenge for the regional title.
“I think we are happy that everyone is here, and it was our first session,” he said. “Remember, with just two days before our first match, tomorrow will be the walk-through. So, we are happy with the number of players who showed up for our first training session.”
Regarding their opening match, Khumalo stated, “We are playing against Mozambique, and we don’t know much about them, but it’s all about how we want to express ourselves when playing at home. We need to show that we are playing at home, we promise to play good football, but most importantly, we need to win the game. We want to see ourselves going into the semifinals; that’s the most important thing.”
Khumalo added that he was very pleased with the squad and highlighted the players’ determination to succeed. “I’m happy with the players because they look sharp, and I was not expecting them to look as sharp as they do, as they have been in recess for two weeks. But we are in good shape and in a good space as we look forward to the next session.”
