Soccer
Two Gallants players named in Bafana squad for CHAN Qualifiers─── MORGAN PIEK 10:05 Mon, 28 Apr 2025
Two played from the Bloemfontein-based Premier Soccer League club, Marumo Gallants, have been included in the Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Malawi.
South Africa who recently stunned a highly rated Egypt in Ismailia, will need to win this qualifying tie in order to book their place in the CHAN tournament, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in August.
During the recent back-to-back fixtures against Egypt in Bloemfontein and Ismailia in March, no Gallants players featured in the national team. Gallants did however face Orlando Pirates the day before the first match, and the clubs were not obliged to release any players as the CHAN qualifying is a non-FIFA event. At that stage, none of the Gallants players had really made a convincing case for selection.
Kamohelo Mahlatsi - Morgan Piek.
However, the match against Pirates in Bloemfontein proved to be a turning point. Since then, Gallants have shown a marked improvement in form and have climbed significantly up the PSL log. Midfielder Kamohelo Mahlatsi and winger Masindi ‘Confidence’ Nemtajela have now been called up to the CHAN squad by stand-in Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki.
Ntseki, a native of Botshabelo and a former assistant coach at Gallants, clearly has a good understanding of their strengths. Mahlatsi, who has previously represented the national team, and Nemtajela have both been in excellent form of late–a clear reflection of the positive influence new Gallants head coach Abdes Ouaddou has had on the team.
Another Gallants player, their veteran striker, Gabadinho Mhango, may play in the qualifiers, but in the colours of Malawi. Bloemfontein born Neo Maema has also been recalled. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder is expected to retain the captain’s armband. He is one of several players with strong ties to the Free State, with other former Bloemfontein Celtic players such as Tebogo Potsane (now at Kaizer Chiefs) and Wayde Jooste (now at AmaZulu) also included in the squad.
Gabadinho Mhango - Morgan Piek.
The team will assemble in Pretoria on Monday to begin preparations for the away leg against Malawi. They are set to travel to the Great Lakes region on Thursday, with the first match scheduled for Saturday at Republic Stadium in Lilongwe. The return leg will be played on (11/05) at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
