Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos named his 23-man squad for the upcoming international friendly against Panama, with Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Sipho Chaine emerging as the biggest surprise omission.
Chaine’s absence has raised eyebrows among supporters, particularly given his impressive domestic form this season.
The 29-year-old has arguably been one of the standout goalkeepers in the league, recording 13 clean sheets, yet he was left out of the squad entirely.
Having previously served as understudy to Ronwen Williams, many expected Chaine to feature prominently in the friendly, with a strong chance of starting at least one match. Instead, he finds himself on the outside looking in.
Did Broos drop Chaine for other reasons?
Addressing the decision, Broos hinted that off-field concerns following the Africa Cup of Nations played a role in certain omissions.
“This is something between Helman and me. We made an evaluation of AFCON three or four days after coming back and we saw things that couldn’t happen anymore and things we knew we couldn’t change immediately, so we dropped them,” the Bafana coach told SABC Sport on Thursday.
“We brought in other players, and I hope the guys who are not there now are looking in the mirror and asking themselves why they are no longer with the national team.”
When asked whether Chaine should be concerned about his chances of making the next World Cup squad, Broos made it clear that no player’s place is guaranteed.
“Everybody has to be worried when they don’t perform,” Broos said. “I’m not saying Sipho [Chaine] is not performing, but everybody has to be worried.”
The decision has divided opinion among fans, with some backing the coach’s stance.
A section of supporters believes Chaine’s omission could be linked to concerns over attitude, suggesting the move may serve as a wake-up call.