Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart named in Bafana Bafana preliminary squad for June friendlies
National team call-up for Chiefs captain On the back of scoring the winning goal in the Nedbank Cup final, Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart has been included in the preliminary Bafana Bafana squad for upcoming friendlies. Photo: BackpagePix
With Mamelodi Sundowns players not available due to next month's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, the team named by Broos is dominated by Orlando Pirates, with 11 players from the club included in the 30-man preliminary squad.
Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart has been rewarded for his stellar performances for his club by being included in the Bafana Bafana preliminary squad for upcoming international friendlies.
Reset restore all settings to the default values Done
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Reset restore all settings to the default values Done
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
There is also a first-time call-up for Pirates' teen sensation Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who has turned heads with his performances since being promoted to the first team by Jose Riveiro during the season.
Club Brugge's Shandre Campbell, who sat on the bench during the Belgian club's UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Marcus Rashford's Aston Villa two months ago, has also been included.
With skipper Ronwen Williams not selected due to Sundowns's Club World Cup commitments, Pirates' Sipho Chaine is expected to be in between the sticks. Chippa United's Darren Johnson, Chiefs' Bruce Bvuma, Ricardo Goss of SuperSport United, as well as Renaldo Learner from Sekhukhune United will provide competition for the number one jersey.
Bafana's opponent for the June international window are yet to be named.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
44 minutes ago
- The South African
Sundowns fans praise Khuliso Mudau's performance despite loss
Mamelodi Sundowns right back Khuliso Mudau was praised for his performance despite the team's 4-3 loss to Borussia Dortmund at the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday. Having won their open match, Masandawana were hoping for a win at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio but it wasn't to be as poor defending let them down. Sundowns opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Lucas Ribeiro Costa but Dortmund scored three times in the space of 29 minutes with goals by Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy and Jobe Bellingham. The German giants increased their lead in the second half and despite a spirited fight from Downs, BVB claimed a 4-3 victory. Masandawana's loss means they now need to win their final group match against Brazilian side Fluminense if they are to qualify to the next round. Despite the loss, Mamelodi Sundowns fans praised defender Khuliso Mudau for his performance. The right-back scored an own goal in the second half however his defending throughout the tournament has been exceptional. @Geshlagesh wrote: 'I'd love to see Mudau playing overseas, he's a reliable workhorse and deserves to play for a bigger club.' @cfcidich wrote: 'Mudau you are so under-appreciated, to be flying up and down the pitch consistently like that is beautiful. what a player.' @Ka_Lindamkhonto wrote: 'Khuliso Mudau is a funny player, his heroic defending is almost always a result of him being out of position yet his speed, athleticism and impeccable and clean tackling is always bailing him out. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Sundowns' Club World Cup dream not over yet despite loss to Dortmund
Mamelodi Sundowns will have to beat Brazilian team Fluminense in their last Group F match at the Fifa Club World Cup in the US to make it to last 16 of the competition after giving away an early lead to end up losing 4-3 to German giants Borussia Dortmund at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday. Sundowns' moment of ecstasy turned into agony when they couldn't hold onto an early lead they took through their Brazilian striker Lucas Ribeiro. A victory would have assured Sundowns of their place in the second round after winning their opening match 1-0 against Korean team Ulsan HD on Wednesday while Dortmund had started the competition with a 0-0 draw against Fluminense. Naivety in defence brought Dortmund back into the game after Sundowns had looked in firm control of the match after taking a deserved lead through Riberio in the 11th minute. Ribeiro got possession from his own half and defied the heat to beat two defenders who were challenging him as he went on to beat Gregor Kobel with a low strike to silence the German team. It was through two mistakes made by the two of the most reliable Sundowns players, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena that Dortmund found themselves in the lead after 34 minutes. First Williams, ever reliable in building Sundowns attacks from the back, gifted a pass to Felix Nmecha and the German attacker slotted the equaliser with ease just five after Ribeiro had given Sundowns the lead. Mokoena was a bit unlucky to be dispossessed near the centre line resulting in a cross from the right which was headed in by striker Serhou Guirassy to give Niko Kovac's team a chance to lead for the first time the 34th minute. After that goal Sundowns came under pressure from Dortmund as they pressed them in their own half and forced them to make more mistakes before Jobe Bellingham, brother of Real Madrid super star Jude, slotted the third goal on the stroke of half-time after Williams failed to handle a fierce shot taken outside the area. Sundowns had the upper hand in the game, with former Dortmund player Tashreq Matthews giving the SA champions a lot of attacking options with his speed on the left flank. But lack of awareness and sharpness let down Sundowns as they gave away possession in dangerous areas in all the goals that they conceded before the break. Lucas Ribeiro doing what he does best 😏🤌 Watch the FIFA #CWC2025 live in various language options on SuperSport 🗣️🎙️ 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: #SSFootball | @DAZNFootball — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 21, 2025 Sundowns started brightly in the second half pinning Dortmund in their own half as they looked to reduce the deficit. Mokoena was unlucky to see his free kick deflected over the bar by Dortmund's wall less than ten minutes after the restart. But just as Sundowns thought they were back in control Dortmund got one break that ended with Sundowns right back Khuliso Mudau deflecting Daniel Svensson's cross into his own net to stretch the German team's lead to 4-1. But Sundowns revived their hopes of catching Dortmund when they immediately reduced the score to 4-2 after Iqraam Rayners scored his second goal in the tournament by heading in Mokoena's well taken free kick just outside the area. Sundowns pushed Dortmund all the way and were further rewarded for their efforts when substitute Lebo Mothiba made it 4-3 on the stroke of full time as they forced Dortmund to make mistakes at the back. Sundowns cannot afford to hang their heads in shame after this defeat as they showed the world what they are capable of. Dortmund are in control 🔝 Jobe Bellingham gets his first goal for Dortmund 👏👏 📺 Stream #FIFACWC on DStv: — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 21, 2025 The match against Fluminense will however stretch them at a time when they cannot afford to make the kind of mistakes they made against Dortmund. Of the four African sides at the tournament, only Sundowns won their opening match after beating Ulsan with Rayners' sole goal on Wednesday. Africa's club of the century Al Ahly, now coached by former Orlando Pirates mentor Jose Riveiro, are unlikely to progress to the next round after their 2-0 loss to Brazilian side Palmeiras on Friday. Ahly must beat Portuguese club Porto on Tuesday and hope other results favour them to progress to the last 16. Esperance of Tunisia revived their hopes of making the second round after beating LA FC 1-0 on Friday. After going 2-0 down against Flamengo of Brazil in their opening match, Esperance now have to beat Premier League side Chelsea on Wednesday to boost their slim chances of progressing to the last 16. There's little hope of Morocco's Wydad Athletic of making it to the second round after their 2-0 loss to Manchester City in their opener on Thursday. Wydad who boasts two South African attackers Thembinkosi Lorch and Cassius Mailula must beat Juventus at 6pm today and Al Ain on Thursday to qualify for the last 16.
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
Dortmund edge Sundowns in a seven-goal thriller
Goals from Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Jobe Bellingham, and a Khuliso Mudau own goal ensured the Bundesliga outfit registered their first win of the tournament. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Trent Patterson/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (15367892n) Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau (25) celebreates with Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Lucas Ribeiro Costa (10) and he scored the first goal of the an Fifa Club World Cup game at TQL Stadium Soccer 2025: Mamelodi Sundowns Vs. Borussia Dortmund, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA – 21 Jun 2025 Borussia Dortmund claimed a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in a pulsating FIFA Club World Cup Group F encounter at the TQL Stadium on Saturday night. Sundowns' spirited fightback Goals from Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy, Jobe Bellingham, and a Khuliso Mudau own goal ensured the Bundesliga outfit registered their first win of the tournament, despite a spirited fightback from the South African champions. ALSO READ: PSG stunned by Botafogo after Messi lights up Club World Cup Sundowns took a surprise lead just 11 minutes into the game. Lucas Ribeiro went on a brilliant solo run from the halfway line before calmly slotting past Gregor Kobel. However, the lead was short-lived following a misplaced pass from Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams who gifted Nmecha a simple finish into an empty net to level matters in the 16th minute. Teboho Mokoena was then caught in possession in midfield, and Dortmund made no mistake on the counter, with Guirassy heading home from Julian Brandt's pinpoint cross to make it 2-1. Dortmund extended their advantage before the break after Williams failed to deal with Brandt's low cross. He spilled the ball into the path of Bellingham, who tapped in his first goal for the club. The German side went into the break 3-1 up after an entertaining first half. The scoreline grew more lopsided on the hour mark when Mudau inadvertently turned a cross into his own net to make it 4-1, but Sundowns hit back just two minutes later. Iqraam Rayners rose highest to head Mokoena's free-kick against the upright, then reacted quickest to steer in the rebound. It was his second goal of the tournament, following his match-winner against Ulsan HD on Wednesday. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso made only one change to the line-up that beat Ulsan, bringing in Tashreeq Matthews for Arthur Sales. Matthews, facing his former club, was withdrawn after 70 minutes for Jayden Adams. Mothiba magic Substitute Lebo Mothiba gave the Brazilians late hope with a composed finish from Kutlwano Letlaku's assist in the 90th minute, but Dortmund held firm in the dying moments to secure all three points. ALSO READ: Flamengo floor Chelsea at Club World Cup The result sees Dortmund move to the top of Group F with four points from two matches, while Sundowns sit second. Attention now shifts to the other clash between Ulsan HD and Fluminense, which kicks off at midnight (SA time) on Sunday.
