Raymond Mdaka says Pitso Mosimane backed Shandre Campbell’s Under-23 call-up

South Africa Under-23 coach Raymond Mdaka says his decision to select Shandre Campbell for the squad’s Africa Cup of Nations and Olympic Games qualifiers was made in consultation with Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane.

The 21-year-old Kortrijk forward was included in Mdaka’s 24-man squad for the two-legged qualifying tie against Madagascar, despite having recently been involved with the senior national team.

Campbell played 45 minutes for Bafana Bafana in an international friendly against Egypt during the previous international window at the beginning of October.

Mdaka said Mosimane had suggested that Campbell temporarily join the Under-23 squad to help the team in their upcoming matches. The pair also regularly discuss other players within the national-team system.

“I’m happy we’re having discussions with the coach (Pitso Mosimane), almost every time he comes to the office, we sit. It’s not about Shandre only, there are a number of players that he always asks from me, a little profile and so on,” Mdaka told reporters at the University of Pretoria, where the Under-23 team were training on Wednesday.

The former Marumo Gallants coach said the importance of the Madagascar tie was also considered during their discussions. The coaches agreed that Campbell could provide greater strength to the junior side at this stage of the qualifying campaign.

“Looking at the magnitude of the game we’re going to be playing on Saturday, we realized if there are players that are there, not to say he was not going to use him (for Bafana) but looking at strengthening the team for the competition, in our discussions we agreed to say ‘Yes, you can have Shandre for now’,” he said.

Mdaka added that Mosimane had spoken directly to Campbell before the forward joined the Under-23 camp.

“He (Mosimane) is the one who even spoke to Shandre, to say, ‘Look boy, we want you to go down and help the Under-23s in this one’ and I also spoke to him. So we’re in good terms and it is helping me in particular when we do those kind of discussions,” he added.

South Africa Under-23s will meet Madagascar at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon, before hosting the return leg at the same venue on Tuesday evening.