Kaizer Chiefs to work harder to produce Bafana Bafana players - Dillon Sheppard

Sheppard reacted to SABC Sport’s question about Amakhosi only having one player in the 35-man preliminary senior national team squad to face Liberia in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in two weeks’ time. 

Brandon Peterson is the only Chiefs representative in a squad heavily loaded with Mamelodi Sundowns players, though this will be trimmed to 23 by next week with the possibility of the Soweto giants having none of their stars in the final selection.

"We are all here for the nation, and it's up to the coach [Hugo Broos] to select the players he feels will do the nation proud [and] we are there to support him," said Sheppard.

"Of course, as a coach, we would love to see our players in the national team but the coach has got to make his selection, and we've got to support that selection.

"Of course, we've got to work hard to improve our players so that our players can be up there for selection, but, as I say, it's important for us as a nation, we are together, and we will support the coach in what decision he makes.

"But yes, we will harder to make sure he does select more of our players."

Looking ahead to Amakhosi’s Nedbank Cup last 16 match against Motsepe Foundation Championship side Casric Stars at FNB Stadium this weekend, Sheppard says they are banking on the momentum of their two-game winning streak.

"Yes, there's a quarterfinal berth to play for. Preparations have gone really well. In two games now, we've [kept] two clean sheets, gaining momentum," he added.

"There's a trophy to play for, a very important trophy. The guys' energy has been really good, looking forward to the match. 

"Coach Arthur was a little under the weather, I'm sure he wishes he could be here [in the press conference] because he knows the energy and things leading up to this game, the positivity.

"And it's about momentum now, not just about the Nedbank Cup, I think going into the next league games, we also want to gain the right momentum, with the right head space and the right energy, and that's what we've been seeing from the players."