The South African Football Association (Safa) on Wednesday excused an Orlando Pirates trio of players from Bafana Bafana’s friendly match against Costa Rica in the city of Liberia. The South Africans meet 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica at the 6000-seater Baltodano Briceno Stadium at 8pm Costa Rica time (4am Friday morning SA time).Safa CEO Dennis Mumble said the Pirates trio of left-back Thabo Matlaba‚ midfielder Mpho Makola and striker Thamsanqa Gabuza have been excused from the Costa Rica game.Mumble‚ however‚ was still awaiting confirmation from coach Shakes Mashaba on whether the three would be needed in the second match against Honduras on Tuesday.The players were originally scheduled to leave on Wednesday for the tiny city of Liberia‚ population 60000‚ in the north-east corner of Costa Rica‚ 70km from the Pacific Ocean.Pirates‚ however‚ questioned the fairness of asking their players to travel 12000 km across seven time zones for Bafana’s Central American tour a day after returning from the second leg of their 5-3 aggregate Caf Confederation Cup victory against Al Ahly on Sunday in Suez‚ Egypt.With South Africa meeting Honduras in San Sula Pedro‚ Honduras‚ at midnight on Tuesday‚ the squad are set to return on Thursday‚ just a day before Pirates’ Telkom Knockout last-16 match against Pretoria University at Orlando Stadium on Friday night.Mumble originally said on Wednesday the Bucs trio would be excused from the trip. Later‚ however‚ Mumble said he could not confirm the players would not travel for the second match.“I only engaged Pirates about it this [on Wednesday] morning. We have decided to release those three players in fairness to Pirates‚” Mumble told Times Media.“We looked at it‚ and they would be leaving today‚ and travelling back seven hours in time‚ so they wouldn’t be able to play in the game against Costa Rica because of that. So they would only be available for the second game.”Bafana arrived in Liberia at 10 am Costa Rica time on Tuesday morning. They did not train that day‚ but did have a session on Wednesday‚ Safa communications director Dominic Chimhavi said from Liberia.“We arrived at 10 am on Tuesday‚ but after an almost 30-hour trip across such an expansive continent as South America‚ to Central America‚ the players could not train. They had jet lag and travel fatigue to recover from.“We are going now to train at the match venue‚” Chimhavi said at 7am Costa Rican time on Wednesday.Chimhavi said Mashaba intends to play his strongest line-up against Costa Rica‚ who lost on penalties against the Netherlands at Brazil 2014‚ impressing with their attacking style of play.“Everyone we have spoken to here has said their national team have never been in such good shape‚” Chimhavi said.Costa Rica were one of the surprise teams of the 2014 World Cup‚ reaching the knockout stage for their first time since 1990 and achieving their best finish.Coached at Brazil 2014 by Columbian Jorge Luis Pinto‚ now in charge of Honduras‚ Costa Rica topped a group including three World Cup winners – Uruguay‚ Italy and England. They beat Greece on penalties in the second round.Currently coached by former international Oscar Ramirez‚ the 16th-ranked La Sele (The Selection) have some notable performers.Club Brugge defender Oscar Duarte‚ Danish-based striker Marco Urena and highly-rated 23-year-old Arsenal forward Joel Campbell scored a goal apiece at Brazil 2014.Mashaba is expected to field front-liners such as goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune‚ defenders Mulomowandau Mathoho and Anele Ngcongca‚ midfielder Andile Jali and striker Tokelo Rantie...