Mosimane names Chaine and Zwane among Bafana Bafana captains

Pitso Mosimane has confirmed Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane will be among several captains in his second spell as Bafana Bafana coach.

Mosimane announced his first official squad since returning to the national team at Safa House in Nasrec on Thursday. Bafana Bafana will face Guinea at Orlando Stadium on September 26 before travelling to play Eritrea on September 30 in back-to-back Afcon qualifiers.

A friendly against Egypt in Cairo on October 4 has also been arranged, with Mosimane selecting 30 players for the three matches.

Under his predecessor Hugo Broos, Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was Bafana Bafana’s sole captain. Mosimane, however, says leadership will be shared, with Williams remaining part of the captaincy group alongside Chaine and Zwane.

“Captains? I don’t know. I believe in leadership in many ways, so we won’t have one captain. We will have a few captains,” Mosimane said.

“I will sometimes choose the captain of the day because if [Kylian] Mbappe is the captain [of France], I think we can also have a young captain.

“A captain doesn’t have to be a player because he’s 38, 35. Themba Zwane is one of my captains, so we need young captains, we need young boys to lead and learn.”

Mosimane said having a single permanent captain could create difficulties if that player was unavailable.

“I don’t believe in one captain because if you are injured and not there [it’s an issue]. The captain must always be playing, right? If you stay with one captain, you can’t call the other one.

“There are a lot of players who have good leadership [skills]. Chaine is going to be one of the captains; the same as Ronwen, he will also remain my captain. Let’s go for it, let’s open up this thing.”

Mosimane added that his goalkeeper coach would be announced in due course, but declined to discuss the players who were left out of the final squad.

Bafana Bafana squad

Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams, Ricardo Goss (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates)

Defenders: Aubrey Modiba, Fawaz Basadien, Thapelo Morena, Thabang Matuludi, Khulumani Ndamane (all Mamelodi Sundowns), Ime Okon (Hannover), Lebone Seema, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Kamogelo Sebelebele (all Orlando Pirates), Samkelo Kabini (Molde), Olwethu Makhanya (Rangers)

Midfielders: Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas (both Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebohang Maboe (Chiefs), Yaya Sithole (Tondela), Brookley Poggenpoel (Durban)

Forwards: Themba Zwane, Iqraam Rayners, Cassius Mailula, Tashreeq Matthews (all Mamelodi Sundowns), Relebohile Mofokeng (USG), Thapelo Maseko (Copenhagen), Luther Singh (Limassol), Shandre Campbell (Kortrijk), Yanela Mbuthuma, Oswin Appollis (both Orlando Pirates), Puso Dithejane (Chicago)