Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki said it augurs well for his side that five players were respectively called-up from their national teams in this FIFA break.
Edson Castillo was called up for Venezuela’s squad that will face Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Mato Grosso on Friday and Chile on Wednesday.
Edmilson Dove is part of the Mozambique side that will play two friendly matches against Angola in Portugal also on Friday and Nigeria in Albufeira on Tuesday next week respectively.
Others out of Chiefs camp are Thatayaone Ditlhokwe for Botswana; Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Mdu Mdantsane are part of Bafana Bafana side that will face eSwatini on Friday and Ivory Coast on Tuesday respectively.
This is refreshing for Chiefs, who in the past three Bafana camps have not had representation, with coach Hugo Broos saying they are not good enough.
The call-ups come at the time when Chiefs are leaking their wounds after they lost to Cape Town City in the league match at home on Tuesday.
“It is good because as a former national team coach I understand the importance of representing your country,” said Ntseki when asked if it pleases him that he has five players out representing their countries after Chiefs was drawn against AmaZulu Carling Knockout Cup round of 16 on Tuesday.
“I think it is also very important for those players to represent the brand Kaizer Chiefs going to their respective national teams.
“Castillo has been out of the Venezuelan national team for some time but seeing him getting a call-up means there is something right that we are doing, something right that he is doing at the club.
“So we are very happy and very proud of those ambassadors that have been selected to represent their national teams. But when it comes to the quality we have in the national team, it means we are getting it right and the players are also getting it right in terms of the confidence playing for the club and also showing their good qualities.”
Out of all players who earned the national team call-ups one in particular that came as a surprise was that of Mdantsane, who is yet to settle at Chiefs despite featuring in 10 matches in all competitions.
Mdantsane’s call-up was necessitated after Percy Tau, Bafana vice captain, was pulled out due to family reasons, but Ntseki argued that Mdantsane’s quality is undoubted.
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“I think it depends on the coaching staff at Bafana on what they are looking for,” said Ntseki, who was sacked by SAFA and replaced Hugo Broos after Bafana failed to qualify for AFCON last year.
“What type of players they want to bring into the team because of preparation going into AFCON or going to the next preparation matches. I think in terms of his qualities, he fits into what the coaches are looking for and that is why Mdu has managed to get a call-up. We can only wish him luck in the national team.”
