Sono fiddles while Bafana burn
It's not the player's own fault, but the selection of Lucky Sibeko for the national side's World Cup warm-up against Ecuador in Spain on April 17 comes as a surprise for two reasons.
The first is that the young midfielder from Golden Arrows is injured and the second is that he has not been in the same form that tormented opposition defences last season.
Ironically, he was snubbed during his major form period by former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Queiroz, but Jomo Sono picks the tricky 22-year-old during his "quiet time".
Sono gave maiden call-ups to a number of other players on Thursday, including Sipho Nunens of Sundowns and Pitso Lekone of Free State Stars, although it was initially thought the caretaker coach would have shaped his first-choice team for the World Cup by the Ecuador game and allowed them to get a taste of South American football as a unit.
This in light of the fact that Paraguay are among Bafana's opponents for the first-round of the World Cup.
Sibeko, who could not be reached for comment, injured his ankle against Manning Rangers at Chatsworth Stadium and subsequently missed last Saturday's game against Black Leopards at Umlazi. He is also set to miss Saturday's clash with Free State Stars in Bethlehem.
He certainly has the potential, but will now hope to make a full recovery in time to make the trip to Spain.
The pacy playmaker is the only player to be chosen from the three KwaZulu-Natal clubs and, as such, Arrows boss Rocky Madlala was not about to see any negatives in his player's selection.
"Basically, he must be there for his potential. As everybody knows, he's a player with a bright future," he said. "This is a good development for our club in that it will encourage other players to do well."
Sibeko's teammate Bheka Phakathi and Manning Rangers striker Ishmael Maluleke were called by Sono for previous games, but will not feature in Spain.
Holland-based striker Glen Salmon, however, has earned a recall and one also wonders how Sono's defenders will perform in the Iberian country after their shabby performance in Georgia last week.
In fact, the critics have been somewhat baffled by Sono's selections in general since he took charge, as the Cosmos boss has not appeared to be in the necessary hurry to forge a first team in the little time left before the World Cup starts at the end of May.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Andre Arendse (Santos), Emille Baron (Lillestrom, Norway). Defenders: Hilton Jordan (Cosmos), Siphiwe Mkhonza (Ria Stars), Cyril Nzama (Chiefs), Tony Coyle (Wits University), Thabang Molefe (Cosmos), Edries Burton (Santos). Midfielders: Sipho Nunens (Sundowns), Mbulelo Mabizela (Pirates), Thabo Mngomeni (Pirates), McBeth Sibaya (Cosmos), Stanton Fredericks (Chiefs), David Kannemeyer (Chiefs), Josta Dladla (Wits), Brett Evans (Ajax CT), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam), Lucky Sibeko (Arrows), Pitso Lekone (Free State Stars), McDonald Mukansi (Chernomorets Bourgas, Bulgaria). Strikers: Abram Raselemane (SuperSport), Glen Salmon (NAC Breda)