Bafana Bafana winger Aubrey Ngoma says he is looking forward to participating in the upcoming 2017 edition of the Cosafa Cup.

Ngoma, who has already been capped once for Bafana, was recently called up to Stuart Baxter’s 20-man squad for the upcoming competition alongside the likes of Lorenzo Gordinho, Judas Moseamedi and Tercious Malepe.

The 27-year-old says he is hoping that the South African national team can succeed in defending their Cosafa Cup trophy, despite having a youthful squad.

‘It’s always an honour to be called up to the national team because there’s a whole lot of players that can be called up, but you were given the opportunity to represent the nation, so I feel privileged and I am looking forward to the tournament,’ Ngoma told Safa.net.

‘Teams will be looking at us as hosts and defending champions, but the coach has selected a nice mixture of players, it’s a balanced squad.

‘If we can just do what is required from us, then we have a very good chance. It’s a very young squad and the coach has said he is looking at potential future Bafana Bafana regulars, so it’s a nice mixture – it’s the boys that have been doing the business for U20 as well as U23, so it’s good for the senior side to have continuation from the development side.’

After having a stellar campaign with Cape Town City, Ngoma was nominated for the Player’s Player of the Season, Midfielder of the Season and Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament.

‘I am very much honoured and humbled to be nominated with players who had such a brilliant season for their respective clubs, it shows that if you put in the hard work you will get the recognition,’ he added.

‘I am really happy and looking forward to the awards because it’s been a very good season for me personally and the club, so I am happy to be among the nominees.’

Bafana Bafana will kick-start their Cosafa Cup campaign when they take on the winners of Group A in the quarter-finals on Sunday, 2 July 2017.

Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix