Why COSAFA Cup inclusion is ideal timing for Bafana skipper Lyle Lakay

SABC Sport reported last month the 31-year-old, returning to Mamelodi Sundowns following a loan spell at Cape Town City, would not be in their plans.

Lakay is currently with the national team in Durban and taking advantage of the minutes under coach Morena Ramoreboli.

"I know there's been things going around where people have been saying my contract at Sundowns is done and everything. I'm still contracted with Sundowns but I'm not in their plans,” Lakay said.

“So, I think that was part of the reason why they allowed me to come because you know most teams don't allow the players or SAFA struggles to get players to come and play COSAFA because it's preseason and obviously teams want to prepare.

I think part of the reason with me coming here is because I'm not in the plans at Sundowns and I got the permission from the club to come and play."

As the captain of the side, Lakay is all but guaranteed game time and made the starting line-up in the opening draw against Namibia on Wednesday, with Botswana as well as Eswatini still to follow on Saturday and Tuesday, respectively.

The COSAFA Cup could very well be a shop window for Lakay.

"Coming to play and getting minutes under the belt, you know, it will help me. Even if I go back to Sundowns or wherever I end up, at least I've been training, I've been playing. So, it will also help. Whereas maybe if I was with a team or any other teams doing preseason preparations would have been different."

On facing Botswana, Lakay believes Ramoreboli is their trump card.

He doubles up as coach of Jwaneng Galaxy FC in the Botswana Premier League, where he won the league last season.

"It was good to have the first 90 minutes together under the belt which is important. Us, coming up against Botswana I think we also have a bit of an advantage with the coach. Coaching in Botswana and knowing the players and also he's won it before so he knows the majority of the players in the team."