Pitso Mosimane names Sipho Chaine and Themba Zwane among Bafana Bafana captains

Pitso Mosimane says Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and Mamelodi Sundowns forward Themba Zwane will be part of a group of captains as he rejects the idea of appointing one permanent leader for Bafana Bafana.

Mosimane announced his first final squad since returning as South Africa coach 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.

South Africa will then meet Egypt in a friendly in Cairo on October 4. Mosimane selected 30 players for the international schedule.

Under his predecessor Hugo Broos, Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the team’s sole captain. Mosimane confirmed Williams would remain part of the leadership group, alongside Chaine and Zwane.

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

He said age would not be the defining factor when selecting leaders and that younger players should be given the opportunity to develop those responsibilities.

“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,” he added.

“I don’t believe in one captain because if you are injured and not there [it’s an issue]. 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; same as Ronwen, he will remain my captain. Let’s go for it, let’s open up this thing.”

Mosimane also said Bafana Bafana’s goalkeeper coach would be announced in due course. He declined to discuss the players who were left out of the final selection.

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).