Bafana Bafana have confirmed that Bidvest Wits keeper Brandon Petersen and Cape Town City defender Thamsanqa Mkhize have been withdrawn from the squad for Saturday’s Nelson Mandela Challenge match against Mali.
Both Petersen and Mkhize sustained injuries with their clubs. The South African national team confirmed on Monday that they would not be in the squad for the match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
‘Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen and defender Thamsanqa Mkhize have been withdrawn from the Bafana Bafana squad that will face Mali in the 2019 Nelson Mandela Challenge scheduled for Sunday, 13 October 2019.
Injury forces two changes in the Bafana Bafana squad to face Mali https://t.co/BBlGwZVo76 via @SAFA_net @Banyana_Banyana @BafanaBafana @COSAFAMEDIA #RSA #NelsonMandelaChallenge
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 6, 2019
‘Ricardo Goss of Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic’s Tshepo Rikhotso have been called up to replace the injured duo,’ Safa confirmed on their official website.
The match against Mali will be new Bafana coach Molefi Nsteki’s first after both their scheduled friendlies were cancelled in the last international break due to a wave of xenophobic violence in the country.
It’s all systems go for this year’s Nelson Mandela Challenge.
The Nelson Mandela Bay will play host to this year’s edition.
See all the details here and how you can play a part in making a difference for our children. #MandelaChallenge @NMCF_SA @NMB_Stadium pic.twitter.com/Cz46Os3v6i
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) October 4, 2019
