Hugo Broos clarifies Mduduzi Mdantsane call-up

Tau was included in the final 23-man squad against Eswatini at FNB Stadium on Friday and Ivory Coast away next Tuesday, but has withdrawn for personal reasons. His replacement Mdantsane, has not had a good start at his new club after joining from Cape Town City. However, it appears that Broos' focus in this decision was not on form.

"Last time, when we talked about the replacement of Themba [Zwane] we knew that Themba is a certain age we have to look for the future that we have someone behind him. Certainly for AFCON when you're that age I don't think you can count every game, every three days for 100% of Themba, so you need a solution. And Mdantsane is one who was on our list," Broos told the media. 

Broos has been anxious about finding a replacement for 34-year-old Mamelodi Sundowns forward Themba Zwane, who missed last month's international friendlies against Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to injury.

Broos believes Mdantsane, who is six years younger than Zwane, can contribute in the No.10 position.

"So, now because Percy is not there we have two choices or we took another winger, or we took the opportunity to have someone maybe in the future who can be a replacement for Themba and that's why he's there." 

Broos recently caused a stir when he stated none of the Chiefs' players were good enough to make his final 23-man squad owing to the club's terrible start to the season.

In a country where club football still receives much more attention than the national team, Broos' selection of Chiefs players following his remark last month has been seen as caving to pressure from the fans of the country's biggest football club.

However, the Belgian is unwilling to revisit the club issues again.