Mokotjo conundrum for Bafana caretaker coach

The 25-year-old was awarded Netherlands citizenship in December, and would ordinarily have been required to renounce his South African citizenship.

Bafana caretaker coach Owen da Gama, upon announcing a 25-man squad yesterday for friendlies against Guinea-Bissau and Angola at the end of the month, admitted he did not know about Mokotjo’s citizenship situation.

“I was not aware of his nationality, I don’t know anything about that. We have put a list together, we have put it in front of the manager (team manager Barney Kujane) and I am sure the manager will look into it,” said Da Gama.

Mokotjo’s decision to take citizenship in the Netherlands will make it easier for him to get a move away from his Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente.

The former SuperSport United man has expressed a desire to play in England and their work permit rules are notoriously strict for footballers from outside the European Union.

The player’s motivation may also stem from the situation that led to his retirement from international football in April 2016, after failing to get much game time under then coach Shakes Mashaba.

Mokotjo has played just 19 minutes of competitive football for Bafana to date, in a World Cup 2018 qualifier against Angola in November 2015.

Safa, meanwhile, appear to continue to struggle to find a permanent head coach to lead Bafana. The association refused to discuss the matter at the press conference, and Da Gama will be on the bench for the two games.

Bafana will play Guinea-Bissau at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on March 25 and Angola three days later at a venue yet to be decided.

The Bafana squad also includes a return for RC Lens striker Kermit Erasmus, another player who appeared to have his issues with Mashaba.

Lorenzo Gordinho’s form in the Kaizer Chiefs defence has been rewarded with a first call-up, while there are also first call-ups for Mamelodi Sundowns star Percy Tau, Wits’ Phakamani Mahlambi and the latest national Under-20 sensation Luther Singh.