It took him a while but when he eventually got down to business of announcing his team who will do duty at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira included two Kaizer Chiefs players in his squad of 23 players who will travel to Ghana for the tournament.

Siphiwe Tshabalala who was at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2006 with Bafana Bafana will be on his way for his second tournament, while Chiefs rookie Itumeleng Khune who is yet to earn a cap at senior national team level for the country was a surprise inclusion in the team.

Bafana Bafana drawn in group D in what is one of the toughest groups will be based in the rural town of Tamale, and will open up their tournament against Angola on the 23rd January and thereafter will face the 2004 Nations Cup Champions Tunisia. South Africa will conclude their group fixtures on the 31st January when they face, the powerful Terranga Lions of Senegal in their third and final game of the round Robin Stage.

Tshabalala ecstatic

Upon hearing from kaizerchiefs.com that he will be on his way to his second nations cup Siphiwe Tshabalala gave out a scream, and could not hold back his joy on the fact that he will be going to Ghana with Bafana Bafana. After a difficult year which has seen him battle to overcome a number of injuries, Tshabalala believes his perseverance has paid off.

“There have been times over the past year when I felt that the world was against me. Getting the news that I will be going to Ghana is the best thing that has happened this year, well apart from joining Chiefs”. In the meantime though Siphiwe’s thoughts are on the Telkom Cup Final, as he says “this is brilliant news for me with a Cup Final on Saturday let me help Chiefs win against Sundowns. Then I can begin to think about the Carthage Eagles, Angola and Hadji Diouf, Mamadou Niang and friends”.

Khune unbelievable

For Itumeleng Khune it has been a case from nowhere to Bafana in a space of a few weeks. When told by team mate Siphiwe Tshabalala of his inclusion in the Bafana Bafana team, Khune did not believe until kaizerchiefs.com called him to confirm the news.

“I still do not believe you this is really unexpected and I never thought it was possible”. Khune who forms part of a goalkeeping trio that includes former Chiefs keeper Rowen Fernandez and BidVest Wits keeper Moeneeb Josephs will be looking to use the experience as a learning curve. He further added “just going to Ghana for me is an achievement I will go there and give my best, and learn from the trip what ever I can and playing will obviously be a bonus”.

BAFANA BAFANA Squad for the 2008 CAF MTN Africa Cup of Nations Ghana 2008

GOALKEEPERS


Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany)


Moeneeb Josephs (BidVest Wits)


Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs)

DEFENDERS


Vuyo Mere (Mamelodi Sundowns)


Bryce Moon (Ajax Cape Town)


Benson Mhlongo (Mamelodi Sundowns)


Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows)


Tshepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel)


Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town)


Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece)


Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England)

MIDFIELDERS


Kagiso Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows)


Elrio van Heerden (Club Brugge, Belgium)


Lance Davids (Djurgardens, Sweden)


Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns)


Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)


Steven Pienaar (Everton, England)


Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates)

STRIKERS


Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates)


Thembinkosi Fanteni (Ajax Cape Town)


Lerato Chabangu (Mamelodi Sundowns)


Katlego Mphela (SuperSport United)


Sibusiso Zuma (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany)