Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has called up a quartet of Chiefs players for South Africa’s 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Niger on September 4, the game will be played at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Amakhosi goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune as well as the midfield duo of Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Siphiwe Tshabalala plus striker Sthembiso Ngcobo will be assembling as part of the 25 man Bafana squad at the Monte Casino Complex in Fourways Johannesburg on Sunday evening in the build up to the game.

The four were part of the South Africa team which defeated World Cup Quarter Finalists Ghana at Soccer City on August 11th in a friendly match, Itumeleng Khune started in that game and kept a clean sheet so did Siphiwe Tshabalala while Letsholonyane and Ngcobo also featured.

Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala will welcome a return to the Mbombela Stadium as he was on the score sheet when Bafana last played at the venue, which was 4-0 defeat of Thailand back in May, while Itumeleng Khune kept a clean sheet against the South East Asians.

After missing out on qualifying for the 2010 Africa cup of Nations South Africa will begin their quest to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with victory against Niger, as they are drawn in a difficult Group G which also includes defending African Champions Egypt and Sierra Leone.

Chiefs midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala will be eager to ensure that South Africa make it to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations as he will be targeting a third appearance at Africa’s show piece event having played at the 2006 and 2008 tournaments.

Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has called up a number of young players for the squad to face Niger and says that he used the same methods used to groom Siphiwe Tshabalala to develop the next generation of South African internationals.

As he said, “When Siphiwe Tshabalala was first called up he was young and still playing in the first division, when he scored in the World Cup against Mexico I said this is a model we must use and gradually call up young players to the team.”

Bafana Bafana will train a Hoerskool Randburg in Johannesburg from Monday and will depart for Nelspruit on the 2nd September two days prior to the Match.

Bafana Bafana Squad:

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders: Keegan Ritchie (Moroka Swallows), Happy Jele (Orlando Pirates), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, Eng), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Isr), Innocent Mdledle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Bel), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United).

Midfielders:Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Steven Pienaar (Everton, Eng), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Rus), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Daine Klate (Orlando Pirates), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Daylon Claasen (Lierse FC, Bel), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Daine Klate (Orlando Pirates).

Strikers: Sthembiso Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs), Kermit Erasmus (SuperSport United), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, NED)