Fit-again Serero back in the Bafana frame

Holland-based midfield sensation Thulani Serero is relishing the prospect of playing against the star-studded Ivory Coast in the Mandela Challenge in Port Elizabeth next Saturday.

Serero has been declared fit to play by Ajax Amsterdam after he was sidelined by a muscle strain for almost five weeks.

He sustained the injury during his team's 3-0 loss to Spanish giants Real Madrid on September 27.

The injury resulted in his being withdrawn from the Bafana squad that played to a goalless draw against Sierra Leone in their final 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Nelspruit last month.

"I'm feeling on top of the world to be back in action. It has not been nice for me to sit in the stands and watch the other guys play," Serero said yesterday.

"I played with our reserve team in the game against Sparta last Sunday, which was also watched by the senior team coach Frank de Boer, who was highly impressed [with my performance].

"I played for only 60 minutes and was replaced as a precaution. There is no pain and I'm looking forward to playing with the senior team again."

Serero is likely to be given a run on Saturday when fifth-placed Ajax take on 13th-ranked FC Utrecht in the Dutch League.

On the Mandela Challenge, Serero said: "It is good to have Ivory Coast coming to celebrate Madiba's contribution to the liberation of South Africa with us.

"We need the strongest possible team against Ivory Coast. We owe it to South Africa after failing to qualify for the Afcon finals."

Meanwhile, Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane will today name the team to play Ivory Coast.

• Kaizer Chiefs' No1 goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is back at training after recovering from pneumonia that sidelined him for almost three weeks.

"Itu has started doing light training and we are happy with his progress," said Chiefs general manager Bobby Motaung, whose team played to a goalless draw against Maritzburg United.