Tshabalala named as South Africa skipper
Reuters - Friday 26 August 2011, 12:47
JOHANNESBURG - Simphiwe Tshabalala, who
scored the opening goal at last year's World Cup, will captain
South Africa in their African Nations Cup qualifier in Niger
next week in the absence of the injured Steven Pienaar,
officials said.
Tshabalala, whose left-footed thunderbolt against Mexico at
Soccer City was chosen as one of FIFA's goals of the year,
stands in for the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, who is expected
to be sidelined for the next month after suffering a pre-season
injury.
Pienaar is one of three South African international based in
England, who will miss the game because of injury and are absent
from a 24-man squad named by coach Pitso Mosimane.
Kagisho Dikgacoi of Crystal Palace and Davide Somma of Leeds
United have also been ruled out of the match in Niamey on September
4.
An away win for South Africa would confirm their place at
next year's Nations Cup tournament, which is being co-hosted by
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.