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Parreira sticking to his plan
07/03/2008 14:00 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parriera is sticking to his plan of constantly testing new players for the national team when he Friday named six new players in his 22-man squad to take on Zimbabwe next Tuesday.
"We need to give players who play well for their clubs a chance to show what they can do for the national team," he said. "It's the only way we can build a good team for the World Cup.
The team to play Zimbabwe include six new caps, including two players from Free State Stars and SuperSport United's 18-year old striker Kermit Erasmus.
"In Brazil we always have young players in the team, Pele was 17 when he played for the national team and now there is Pato (AC Milan striker) who is just 18 and he is a good prospect for the Brazil national team.
"I did not only select Erasmus because of his age, but because I liked what I saw. He has potential and this is what we need to build our team, young players who have potential.
Erasmus was voted Man of the Match when SuperSport beat Ajax Cape Town 3-2 in a midweek match at Atteridgeville. Parreira was in the stands when the teenager scored his first goal for United.
"He (Erasmus) now has the chance to show what he can do at this level and so do the others. We'll continue like this (bringing in potential World Cup players) until the Confederations Cup next year. We are building a team for that and the World Cup," said the 1994 World Cup winning coach.
The squad is as follows
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs) and Senzo Meyiwa (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Bongani Khumalo and Siboniso Gaxa (SuperSport United), Bryce Moon and Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Mokete Tsotetsi (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders:Papi Zothwane and Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Thulasizwe Mbuyane(Free State Stars), Bafo Biyela (AmaZulu), Siphiwe Tshabalala(Kaizer Chiefs), Bennet Chenene and Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Dumisani Ngwenya (AmaZulu)
Strikers: Bernard Parker (Thanda Royal Zulu), Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates), Kermit Erasmus (SuperSport United), Sthembiso Ngcobo (Free State Stars)
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