The late call-up of Kaizer Chiefs defenders Derrick Spencer and Sphiwe Mkhonza to the Bafana Bafana squad for the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifier against DR Congo on Sunday is perhaps an indication that coach Stuart Baxter is playing his cards right in case of possible late mysterious withdrawals.

After all, most of the players would not willingly head to DRC due to the political instability in that region.

The duo of defenders Derrick Spencer and Sphiwe Mkhonza were called up late on Monday.

“Spencer and Mkhonza will not be replacing anyone so far and the reason why the coach called them is because the coach (Stuart Baxter) wants to have a look at them,” Bafana team manager Stanley Tshabalala told Kick-Off online.

The Orlando Pirates pair of Benedict Vilakazi and Lucky Lekgwathi were also invited on the same day to join the squad.

The coach was on a number of occasions left stranded following some unexplained late withdrawals. In July Germany-based defender Bradley Carnell pulled out of the squad for the World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde due to an injury picked up in training in days leading up to the match.

Norwegian-based keeper Emile Baron failed to arrive for the Cape Verde commitment without any explanation and he has not been considered again. Striker Benni McCarthy was an automatic exclusion as he was getting married to his Spanish sweetheart on the same weekend.

Just recently, Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune finally join ed the squad after a two-year absence, for the friendly international against Tunisia. However, that move never materialised, as he was withdrawn from the squad in the 11th hour due to injury. McBeth Siybaya was reportedly detained by his Russian club, Rubin Kazan, who refused to release him for national duty.

Baxter did not have time to find a replacements and left without any. It was a friendly after all. However, more importantly, Baxter had learned a lesson that a player is not in the squad until he actually shows up for camp.

Now, with three days before the departure to war torn DRC, Baxter finds himself in a similar position with some of his key players yet to report for duty. Former Bafana captain Mbulelo Mabizela, along with five other overseas-based players, had not reported to camp by Monday.

Striker Benni McCarthy along with Sweden-based Thando Mngomeni, Sbusiso Zuma of FC Copenhagen and Russian-based McBeth Sibaya, are expected late in camp due to club commitments.

The majority of the squad had reported for camp on Monday with five overseas-based players yet to respond. They will leave for the DRC on Friday for the match to be played on Sunday.