Hugo Broos has revealed that the decision to exclude Bongokuhle Hlongwane from the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan was a tough one.
Hlongwane, who has been in impressive form for Major League Soccer side Minnesota United, was initially included in the 38-man preliminary squad. However, he didn’t make the final cut of 23 players.
Broos explained that while Hlongwane has been performing well for Major League Soccer side Minnesota United, other players were deemed more deserving of a spot in the squad at this time.
The Bafana Bafana mentor said on FARPost: “I think Bongokuhle Hlongwane did well in America in the last months; he played well. But when you’re going through players that are not there, I can also say a few other names.
“So those are choices you have to make, and I know there was a time two years ago when the choices were much easier to make because we didn’t have so many players who were able to play in Bafana Bafana.
“I don’t want to speak about players who are not there because the choice is made, but I can understand, and from your side, you are always coming back asking, ‘Why not this one, why not this one?
“Again these are choices I have to make and I made them, it doesn’t mean that this player is not good enough or whatever.
“It’s a fact of choice; when you see in the preliminary, we had 30 players. So, I have to drop 15 players, and maybe from all of those 28, they all deserved to be in the Bafana Bafana, but that’s not possible.”