Broos Gives Insight Into Cross Selection

With Aubrey Modiba recently picking up a knock, Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos wanted to make sure he has adequate cover at left, which is one of the reasons Bradley Cross was included in the final squad for the FIFA World Cup.

After a good season with Kaizer Chiefs, Cross has been included in the squad heading to the World Cup and his presence will be important in case the injury Modiba picked up recently reoccurs.

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Speaking to the media the morning after the night he announced his squad, Broos explained why it was important for him to have Cross in his squad for the competition. Cross is the only Amakhosi player going to the World Cup, as Broos left out Brandon Petersen, Thabiso Monyane and Lebohang Maboe.

"Bradley was with us I think two years ago. He suffered also a little with the level of Chiefs in the last years. Now this year, it goes better with Chiefs and we also have a little problem with Modiba, so I had to look at that. Normally, there would be no problem for Modiba, but if there should be a problem, we only had Kabini on the left side and that was also a reason why we took Bradley with us," Broos said.

One of the new faces in the team is US-based Olwethu Makhanya, a player Broos says he and assistant coach Helman Mkhalele have been keeping an eye on.

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"We don't call the players because of the sunshines or something. We follow the players and it's a lot of work. Every Monday, Helman and I are in the office and we start to look at the list we have to see who played and did they player well and whatever. Like Makhanya also, it's not because of the last two weeks. We were thinking to call him already in March, but because of other reasons, he was not there. We know very well how players are performing. The only thing is that I have sometimes another moment to call because I think different.

The performances of Makhanya in Europe are very good. He is playing every minute with his team. He is a good defender."

Bafana will take on Nicaragua in a friendly international at Orlando Stadium on Friday evening.