Pretoria - Katlego "Killer" Mphela is one of the 24 players selected to face Egypt on the crucial 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at Ellis Park stadium on 26 March at 8.05pm.
Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane dropped the Mamelodi Sundowns lethal striker for the friendly match against Kenya in February following his 'self-imposed absence' at the team's training session in a bid to join Serbian champions Partizan Belgrade.
Mosimane also dropped Bafana Bafana long serving skipper Aaron Mokoena as well as Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Teko Modise.
The Bafana coach also picked up eight more players for observation and these are Happy Jele of Orlando Pirates, Siyanda Xulu, Eric Mulomo wa Ndau Mathoho, Hlompho Kekana both of Bloemfontein Celtic, Mark Mayambela of Orlando Pirates, Lehlohonolo Majoro of Amazulu, George Maluleka of Ajax Cape Town and Vuyisile Wana of Santos.
After observation, these players will be released to their respective teams on Sunday, 20 March.
"The eight players are some of those who are having a very good season at their clubs, and I want to work with them so I can have a closer look at them.
"I have invited them to camp so I can introduce them to what we do here ... when a need arises, I can call them up again. I will be working with them from Thursday, 17 March to Sunday, 20 March. It's not enough time but it is a worthwhile exercise," he said.
This will be Bafana's third 2012 Afcon qualifier match and Mosimane's biggest challenge to date, even though the Pharaohs are still at the bottom of Group G with only one point.
Bafana are leading the group with four points, followed by Niger and Sierra Leone with three and two points respectively.
"We are playing at home and our main aim is to get three points. We should not underestimate our opponents because of the current standings on the table and the fact that their country has been unstable.
"In fact, they will be more dangerous as they believe this is the time to win and get their campaign back on track. Many think the Egyptian team has been idle. Actually, they have been working hard at training. They have played six more matches than us in preparing for this clash with us, so we need to be extra careful in our approach," he said.
Mosimane said for this crucial clash, he will need his senior players to show leadership in all aspects of the match.
"This is the kind of match where the senior players must take the lead. The likes of Pienaar, Dikgacoi, Tshabalala, Parker and Mphela have the experience from the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup is going to be crucial in this encounter.
"The Pharaohs are the African Champions and for that we will respect them but not overdo it. For us to win, we need to have the same mentality and spirit that we had when we played against France in our last match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Our objective is to open the gap at the top," he said.
The team will assemble on Wednesday at the Southern Sun Monte Casino hotel in Fourways.
They depart for the Royal Marang Hotel in Rustenburg on Thursday, 17 March 2011 where they will set up camp. They will also hold their training sessions at the hotel grounds until they return to Johannesburg on March 24.
The North Africans are expected to arrive in South Africa on Sunday, 20 March.
On the Bafana squad list are goal keepers, Itumeleng Khune, Wayne Sandilands, Darren Keet. Defenders Morgan Gould, Siboniso Gaxa, Bongani Khumalo, Mzivukile Tom, Anele Ngcongca, Siyabonga Sangweni and Rueben Cloete.
Midfielders are Andile Jali, Thanduyise Khuboni, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Steven Pienaar, Daylon Claasen, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Sifiso Myeni.
Strikers are Kermit Erasmus, Tlou Segolela, Bernard Parker, Davide Somma, Thulani Serero and Katlego Mphela.
