Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Brent Carelse has weighed in on the
reduced number of Mamelodi Sundowns players selected in Hugo Broos’ latest
Bafana Bafana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Broos’ final 25-man squad includes only five Sundowns players—Ronwen
Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, and Bathusi
Aubaas—with Iqraam Rayners on standby. This marks a significant drop from
the ten Sundowns stars who traveled to the last AFCON in Ivory Coast.
The announcement comes during a season where Sundowns have faced questions
over their form since returning from the FIFA Club World Cup and currently
sit second in the Premiership, three points behind Orlando Pirates—who have
nine players in the national squad.
Speaking to PSLSA, Carelse suggested the shift is part of Broos’ long-term
vision. “If you go back to what coach Hugo Broos was saying from the start
of his tenure, he wants to have a younger team,” Carelse said. “I think the
decrease in Sundowns players in the national team is because of that.”
He also pointed to rising talent from other clubs. “There are other players
who have put their hands up to say, ‘Look, I’m here and ready’—and not only
that, they’re also young. Especially if you look at Pirates, many of their
players who have come in over the last few months are younger compared to
those who were there before.”
Carelse believes Broos is already building toward future campaigns. “I think
he is preparing at the same time for the World Cup. He wants a younger team
so he can prepare them for the World Cup next year.”
