Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has explained the late inclusion of defender Siyanda Xulu ahead of the international friendlies against Sierra Leone and Botswana.
Broos had initially not included Xulu in his squad, as the player had not had competitive action for months before joining Azerbaijani club Turan IK. Xulu has replaced Thibang Phete, who has been ruled out with an injury.
Xulu is one of Broos' trusted figures and, despite only getting two matches recently for his new club, the Belgian coach feels it's enough for him to be included in the team.
"We had an injured player, so we have to replace. There were two options - I take another player or I take Siyanda. I know last week I said it was a little too soon for him because Siyanda was out of matches for five months, but the last two games he played 90 minutes. I prefer to have someone like him with the team, because he is a leader in the group. So, I think it was better to take him. Maybe he is not 100 percent, but I know he is a professional guy. When I need him, he will give 100 percent. I know him, I know his mentality. He has played two games already, so that's why I decided to take him," Broos said during a press conference held at Dobsonville Stadium.
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