“So far so good,” reacts William Twala when asked about being with the Bafana Bafana squad. “It is always an exciting feeling to be called-up for the national team.”

Twala was last year part of Shakes Mashaba’s 2016 African Nations Cup (Chan) squad. It means that the winger’s inclusion in South Africa’s present squad to face Cameroon for two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers represents his second call-up.

“I've been in the Bafana set-up before, but that was for a Chan qualifier,” reflects Twala. “I was in the starting line-up when we beat Mauritius 3-0 last year at the Dobsonville Stadium. However, it is for the first time that I mix with most of the players in the present group.”

Twala refers hereby mainly to the overseas-based players, who weren’t selected for the Chan squad.

Bafana Bafana departed on Thursday to Cameroon to play the Indomitable Lions, who are presently on top of Group M, at Stade Omnisports de Limbé on Saturday, 26 March (kick-off is 16:30, South African time).

“I share a room with Mandla Masango,” Twala reveals. Ironically, the 26-year-old, who joined Amakhosi in January, is seen by many as having replaced Denmark-based Masango’s at Chiefs’ wing. “We talk a lot about football and life in general. He also shares with me his experiences when at the Village.”

After Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, South Africa will fly home to host the Cameroonians at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, 29 March (kick-off is at 19:00).

“We are ready for Cameroon,” adds the dazzling midfielder. “The mood in the camp is positive and we are optimistic that we can book a result in both qualifiers. Coach Mashaba is motivating us to focus on our strength, our game plan and to forget about Cameroon’s position in the group. We’re going to Limbé to win.”

The Indomitable Lions are topping Group M with six points, while Bafana Bafana have only one point to show for their efforts after having played two matches.