Locals given chance to impress Santana

Local-based players will get their first chance to impress Bafana Bafana head coach Joel Santana in 2009 in a friendly match against Zambia at Atteridgeville's Super Stadium on January 27. The Brazilian is set to name a squad comprising only Premier Soccer League players, for the encounter.

As this friendly is a practice match, no caps will be awarded. However, it is an important game for Santana as this will be the first opportunity for the coach to start fine-tuning the squad ahead of the Confederations Cup in June where Bafana are in the group with European champions Spain, Asian kingpins Iraq, and Oceania champions New Zealand.

Santana will meet with his technical team on Thursday to prepare for the friendly and begin selecting players.

But this is an excellent opportunity for local players to impress against Zambia and catch the coach's eye ahead of next month's friendly against Chile for which caps will be awarded.

Bafana play Chile on February 17 in Polokwane on a Fifa sanctioned date.

Santana will use the core of PSL players he has used in recent matches such as Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, crafty winger Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thanda Royal Zulu striker Bernard Parker - if he has not been transferred to Red Star Belgrade - Golden Arrows class midfield anchor Kagisho Dikgacoi, Orlando Pirates midfield maestro Teko Modise, plus Mamelodi Sundowns players Siboniso Gaxa, Robyn Johannes, Surprise Moriri and Lerato Chabangu as the backbone of his squad.

Santana, who returned from a holiday in Brazil on Monday, is not able to call up any of his overseas-based players as the match fall outside a Fifa sanctioned date.

Said Sanyane: "This gives the coach the perfect opportunity to get an early look at what is available in the PSL and reward players who are shaping up well this season."

With the Confederations Cup around the corner and the 2010 World Cup just 18 months away, every friendly game Bafana play will be taken seriously.

Santana said after his side defeated Cameroon in the final friendly of 2008 in Rustenburg in November, that he had 80% of his squad in mind for the Confederations Cup.

But Santana stressed the door was not closed. Players like Ajax Cape Town striker Mabhuti Khenyeza must be given a chance. Khenyeza, a former Bafana player, is due for another chance. He has been in outstanding scoring form for the league leaders.

His teammates Nazeer Allie and Brett Evans are also in the frame.

Both fullbacks have also been on top form this season. Ajax's two wingers, Franklyn Cale and Sameehg Doutie, must also be under consideration. Both have been outstanding for the Urban Warriors.

Although Sundowns are not doing well this season, goalkeeper Calvin Marlin is another player who has rediscovered his best form and is ready to challenge Khune for the number one jersey.

Then there is Eleazar Rodgers, the talented Santos striker and his teammate Erwin Isaacs, who are knocking on the Bafana door, as is Pirates' flying winger Dikgang Mabalane, plus Moroka Swallows' hard working midfielder Lefa Tsutsulupa.