South Africa-Football - Bafana Bafana Head coach Pitso Mosimane has called up five new players to the squad that will play Equatorial Guinea in Bata, 240km from the capital Malabo. They are goalkeepers Darren Keet (Kortrijk, Belgium), Brilliant Khuzwayo (Thanda Royal Zulu), defenders Ayanda Gcaba (Free State Stars), Wayne Arendse (Santos) and midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi (Wits University). The five will replace players from Orlando Pirates, Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns. The three clubs did not release their players for the aforementioned away friendly game and for two scheduled home games involving Zambia and Ghana.

All the overseas-based players will leave soon after the Equatorial Guinea encounter. Defender Anele Ngcongca has been withdrawn from the squad after his Belgian club did not grant him permission to attend camp.

Vice-captain Siphiwe Tshabalala will not be part of the squad as he is undergoing trials overseas.

The matches involving Zambia and Ghana will still go ahead but have now been turned into non-official practice matches.

"The South African Football Association (SAFA) was fully aware that the proposed friendly fixtures fell out of the FIFA calendar and, as a result, posed challenges with regards to player release. But as an association we are happy that we are still able to help the coach with his plans of preparing the team for AFCON 2013 and 2014 Brazil," said Acting SAFA President Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana.

These issues were discussed at the Joint Liaison Committee Meeting, whose members comprise of SAFA and Premier Soccer League (PSL) officials where it was agreed no club would be compelled to release players.

"Therefore, we have had to call up additional players to fill the gap created by the non-availability of some players. It is a blow not to have some of our regular players but this will give others an opportunity to prove their mettle," said coach Mosimane.

Bafana Bafana will now play Equatorial Guinea on Friday, 6 January, 2012 (instead of Thursday, 5 January as initially announced). The match kicks off at 19h30 local time in Bata (20h30 South African time). The squad assembles on Monday, 2 January, 2012 and leaves on Tuesday, 3 January.

Bafana Bafana squad:

NO.

PLAYER'S NAME

CLUB

GOALKEEPERS:

1. KEET, Darren

KV Kortrijk (Belgium)

2. KHUZWAYO, Brilliant

Thanda Royal Zulu FC (SA)

DEFENDERS:

3. GAXA, Siboniso

Lierse FC (Belgium)

4. GOULD, Morgan

Supersport United FC (SA)

5. GCABA, Ayanda

Free State Stars (SA)

6. MATHOHO Eric

Bloemfontein FC (SA)

7. ALIE Nazeer

Ajax Cape Town FC (SA)

8. ARENDSE Wayne

Santos FC (Belgium)

9. GILBERT Rudiger

Free State Stars FC (SA)

10.PHUNGWAYO Patrick

Bidvest Wits FC (SA)

MIDFIELDERS:

11. CLAASEN Daylon

Lierse FC (Belgium)

12. LETSHOLONYANE Reneilwe

Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

13. MALULEKA George

Ajax Cape Town FC ( SA)

14. VILAKAZI Sibusiso

Bidvest Wits FC (SA)

15. MAHLANGU May

Helsingborg FC (Sweeden)

16. SCOTT Granwald

Ajax Cape Town FC (SA)

17. MASHABA Mzikayise

Free State Stars FC (SA)

18. LEBESE George Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

Strikers

19. MAJORO Lehlohonolo

Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA)

20. GROBLER Bradley

Goztepe Izmir FC (Turkey)

21. NONTSHINGA Siyabonga

Jomo Cosmos FC (SA)

22. CHAPMAN Ryan

Bidvest Wits FC (SA)

Confederation of African Football/03/01/2012