Bafana rejects still warm bench

Bafana coach Gordon Igesund's decision to drop skipper Bongani Khumalo and Thulani Serero for lack of game time looks justified after the pair sat on the bench again for their clubs last weekend.

Khumalo was an unused substitute for Greek side Paok as they beat Panathinaikos 2-0 to remain third in the table.

Serero also saw no game time for Ajax Amsterdam in their 3-2 victory at AZ Alkmaar, which saw them maintain their one-point lead at the top of the table in the Netherlands.

Feyenoord midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo has also seen his international career take a dive due to inactivity for his club, and that was the story again this weekend as he failed to make it off the bench.

Kagisho Dikgacoi was in action for his English Championship side, Crystal Palace, as they lost 3-0 at Brighton & Hove Albion. It was a missed opportunity for Palace, as a victory would have taken them into second, and an automatic promotion place, as they seek a return to the Premiership next season.

Striker Dino Ndlovu, who has received a recall to the Bafana squad for their World Cup qualifier against Central African Republic in Cape Town this Saturday, was a second-half substitute for Israeli side Maccabi Haifa.

He failed to get on the score sheet, but they did win 1-0 to stay second in the title race.

Bafana midfielder May Mahlangu has started the new Swedish season well and helped his Helsingborg side to a 3-1 win against Gefle, which has seen them qualify for the last eight of the domestic cup competition.

Finally, left-back Ricardo Nunes played for his Slovakian team, Zilina, in their 1-0 home loss to MFK Kosice. They have made a disappointing start to 2013 since the resumption of the league after the winter break, managing just a single point from three games.