Kermit Erasmus and Fortune Makaringe seem likely to be among three players to suffer the disappointment of not being in Stuart Baxter's final 23-man Bafana Bafana squad today for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Baxter will announce his Egypt 2019 squad at 1pm at SA's hotel in Fourways. The last of the three players axed from a 28-man preliminary squad, which became 26 with the injury to Keagan Dolly and no-show of Rivaldo Coetzee, might be a tough choice between Ben Motshwari and Tiyani Mabunda.
Erasmus seemed a surprise call-up having shown flashes of brilliance that never really materialised into consistency for Cape Town City. Makaringe, in central midfield, would surely be third in a pecking order that pits the greater Caf Champions League and international experience of Mamelodi Sundowns' Mabunda against the form of Orlando Pirates' Motshwari.
Bafana's first leg of three camps - the next is in Dubai, where SA meet Ghana on Friday after departing Johannesburg tomorrow; then in Egypt, where they meet Angola in a second warm-up on June 19 - has almost progressed smoothly.
There have been grumbles that Baxter should have used the Cosafa Cup as a warm-up, but that could have had its own pitfalls. Steyn City School in Midrand has raised eyebrows as a "posh" base for the national football team, but SA seem to have enjoyed training out of the glare on smooth surfaces.
Low-key suits Bafana as flying under the radar into Egypt is their ambition. Even public expectation has been unusually muted. Baxter would also love to have Group D heavyweights Ivory Coast and Morocco think of SA as whipping boys.
"I'll guarantee them that on the field we'll be better organised than they think we are," the coach said. "We'll be more skilful than they think, and the game will be a lot more difficult than they think it's going to be."
Looking at Bafana's four departments, Baxter has a solid combination.
SA don't have the star quality and top European club presence of the continent's big punchers. Bafana's strength needs to be drawn from their number of players from a constantly improving Premier Soccer League who know each other intimately.
Add to that three overseas-based players - Lebogang Mothiba, Percy Tau and Kamohelo Mokotjo - who have had strong European seasons and are playing their first Nations Cup without fear born of past humiliations suffered, and with plenty to prove.
The same applies to Bongani Zungu, who spent most of last season injured, but impressed greatly in Ligue 1 in 2017-18. He was part of Shakes Mashaba's squad at Afcon 2015, but did not play.
Low-key suits Bafana as flying under the radar into Egypt is their ambition
Darren Keet claimed the goalkeeper spot in injured Itumeleng Khune's absence with a stunning display in the 2-1 win against Libya in Tunisia that saw SA qualify.
Tau's two goals there, and Player of the Season award in the Belgian second-tier, mark him as the man to make things happen in attack. His partnership with Mothiba provides goal-shy Bafana a rare sharp end.
Throw Themba Zwane in the mix - one of the best wingers in the 2018-19 Champions League as Sundowns reached the semifinals - and SA have a promising attack.
Dean Furman's work-rate and quickness around the park, combined with Mokotjo's reading of the game and creativity, provide an interesting midfield base. Either could be dislodged by Zungu. A defence of Thamsanqa Mkhize, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Buhle Mkhwanazi and Sifiso Hlanti has a pace issue that needs managing, but they will not be bullied by big West and North Africans.
This Bafana - unbeaten in the qualifiers and conceding just two goals - are capable of at least beating Namibia to be among the four best third-placed finishers from the six groups to reach the last 16.
Can they manage any more than that; upset Morocco or Ivory Coast to spur confidence and set up a run into the quarter- or semifinals?
That probably rests on the coach's shoulders. Create a contented spirit and a togetherness, harness some of the newbies' excitement, analyse the opposition correctly, and provide a suitable game plan and selections that cater to the strengths of South African footballers, and who knows?
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.