Kekana Unfazed By Bafana Snub, Shifts Focus To Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana says he is not dwelling on his omission from the South Africa national football team squad, insisting that his full focus remains on performing for his club.
Kekana has not been part of the Bafana Bafana camp since March last year when South Africa recorded victories over Lesotho national football team and Benin in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The centre-back did not feature in those matches, and the last time he appeared on the pitch for the national team was against Congo national football team during the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in October 2024.
This comes despite Kekana being part of the squad that secured a bronze medal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he notably sacrificed for the team by receiving a red card in the semi-final against Nigeria.
However, he was overlooked for the most recent Bafana squad selections, including the upcoming camp where South Africa will face Panama national football team in two friendly matches later this month as part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
The 33-year-old defender, who has earned 16 caps for Bafana Bafana, was also absent from the preliminary squad, raising questions about his future with the national team.
Asked about his omission, Kekana remained composed and reiterated that his priority is his club.
“I think my primary focus is definitely on Mamelodi Sundowns because they are the ones who are giving me the platform to get selected for the national team,” said Kekana.
“Right now, my primary focus is on Mamelodi Sundowns.”
Kekana’s attention is firmly on Sundowns’ upcoming clash against Stade Malien in the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Friday.
Unlike the group stage matches, the quarter-finals will feature the use of the Video Assistant Referee system to ensure fair decisions.
Sundowns head into the encounter in strong form, having won their last four league matches while battling Orlando Pirates for the top spot in the Betway Premiership standings.
The demanding schedule has, however, drawn criticism from Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, who recently questioned the Premier Soccer League for scheduling their league match against Orbit College FC on Tuesday instead of allowing the team more rest ahead of the continental quarter-finals.
When asked whether the players were feeling the strain of the packed schedule, Kekana admitted that the workload can be taxing but said the squad has grown accustomed to it.
“Since I arrived at Sundowns, it has pretty much been the same,” he said.
“For us, we have been in this situation for quite some time. We have sort of gotten used to it, although it is still taxing on the body.
“But we are privileged to have people in the club who help us with recovery methods, and the coach also manages the workload by resting certain players during training sessions.
“We are trying to balance it from our side, and the appeal has been for the country to support us. That is all we are asking for.
“The country should support us on our journey because we are no longer just representing Mamelodi Sundowns, we are representing the country.
“It is taxing on the body, but we don’t let it dictate how we show up for the game. We understand that we have to deliver because a lot is expected from us, and we are simply asking for that support.”
