10 explosive South African talents no self-respecting Bafana coach should to go to war without

There are explosive players – some emerging‚ others who have fallen by the wayside – who have been overlooked for Bafana Bafana despite banging down the door to be included.

The public have been clamouring for their inclusion‚ and not without good reason.

South Africa’s Under-23s drew with Brazil at last year’s Olympics and this year’s Under-20s reached the World Cup after by reaching the semifinals of the Caf U-20 Africa Cup of Nations where they went down to hosts Zambia on Wednesday night.

If ever there was a chance to inject youth and energy into Bafana this must be it.

Owen da Gama‚ who is set to take charge of the friendlies against Guinea Bissau and Angola on the Fifa international dates of March 25 and 28‚ will announce his squad on Thursday.

• World Cup bound Amajita knocked out of Under-20 Afcon by hosts Zambia Amajita matched fired-up hosts Zambia in front of a capacity National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka until Edward Chilufya’s 109th-minute header finally separated the teams in Wednesday night’s Caf Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations semifinal. 

Safa are set to finally announce their new head coach in the coming days and one can only hope the new man has an adventurous spirit.

Times Media Digital believes that the following are 10 players whom no Bafana coach should go to war without:

Percy Tau

There is no more destructive forward in South Africa today.

He plays with an exuberance and explosiveness that reminds of the greats of the 1970s and 1980s.

An African club champion. How has he not been picked yet?

Lebogang Manyama

He just seems to get better and better‚ and his attacking play has been the driving force behind Cape Town City’s remarkable rise to the top of the PSL.

• Safa Technical director applauds the SA Under-20 side after qualifying for the World CupSouth African Football Association (Safa) technical director Neil Tovey says the SA Under-20s have made the country proud after qualifying for the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. 

Phakamani Mahlambi

Bidvest Wits’ 19-year-old attacking prodigy has attracted international interest‚ his pace is electrifying‚ and he’s ready to play for Bafana.

Kamohelo Mokotjo

In Holland they rave about his every touch‚ yet Gordon Igesund and Shakes Mashaba appeared to be scared off by his outspokenness and confidence.

It’s time to see why this midfield dynamo is so highly rated in Europe‚ because his exclusion has become detrimental in the extreme.

Kermit Erasmus

One of South Africa’s best destructive forward‚ and back where he belongs in Europe‚ even if he’s had to drop down a league on loan to Lens in Ligue 2‚ Erasmus can come back from the cold now that Mashaba is gone.

The scary part is‚ with some of the forwards who have emerged‚ he might not even be needed.

Lebogang Phiri

Phiri lights up the scene week in and week out for Brondby in Denmark‚ where he’s something of a folk hero‚ yet is deemed surplus by his national team.

• Sacked Bafana boss Mashaba insists he wasn't coached on how to deal with the mediaFormer Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba's lawyer on Wednesday told his arbitration hearing that the incident that led to his axing was not televised on SABC news bulletins that evening because it was not newsworthy. 

Abbubaker Mobara

Mobara had a tough transition adapting to a new team at Orlando Pirates from Ajax Cape Town from the start of this season.

His versatility means he gets used everywhere from centreback to right-back to defensive midfield‚ which can make it difficult for a player with immense potential to establish himself.

He’s been superb in recent games in midfield.

Thabo Mnyamane

Under-rated Mnyamane’s much-improved consistency since moving from Pretoria University to neighbours SuperSport United has made him a potent threat.

He’s become a far more technically correct forward‚ dynamic in his mobility and capable of blasting in goals.

• Shakes Mashaba compared to an 'old dog that could not be taught new tricks' at CCMA hearingEphraim "Shakes" Mashaba was compared to an old dog that could not be taught new tricks as his unfair dismissal hearing commenced at the Commission for Conciliation‚ Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) offices on Tuesday. 

Luther Singh

The tournament top scorer so far for Amajita at the U20 Afcon is technically gifted‚ has pace and a finish.

Perhaps the 18-year-old should not be rushed too much just yet‚ but he certainly seems worth a senior squad place for experience‚ and a run in some friendlies soon to assess his ability at that level.

Thapelo Morena

Since being converted to a right-back at Mamelodi Sundowns by Pitso Mosimane, one of the fastest men in SA football has blossomed.

His pace means he’s very hard to beat in defence‚ and a difficult to stop on the overlap.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport