Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Stanton Fredericks has revealed the one thing that needs to be done for the Bafana Bafana squad to recapture glory.
Bafana drew 2-2 with Liberia on Friday night and are left with a mammoth task of beating them in the reverse fixture without reply, if they still entertain any AFCON hopes.
They missed the latest two editions of the tournament. However, Belgian mentor Hugo Broos has successful instilled hope that they can qualify.
Broos has assembled a squad that appears to be good enough to get the job done.
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But, for the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Stanton Fredericks, more needs to be done for the team to be a dreaded jaggernaut again.
“Whether you like it or not, the only way Bafana Bafana and the South African national team is going to improve these players, is by playing with those abroad,”he said.
“When I sit on the SuperSport TV panel and we do African Nations Cup you look at that team sheet.
“Even if it is in a second division in Belgium, third division in France. These guys are playing overseas and the quicker we get there the better for the nation.
“But this speaks to the club owners or the academy owners or everybody to say listen let me not think about how much I want to get for this player.
“When you sell him to a bigger team that is when you can possibly get the remuneration because you have developed the player.
“We need to look at it from both sides. But I certainly believe that the more players we have playing abroad, the better. It’s starting to show now.
“The Lyle Fosters the Percy Taus. This is when we will see a better Bafana Bafana and even on the upcoming games.”
Fredericks said all overseas based players need to be considered for national team duty.
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“This because of these players coming from abroad have the experience of playing at the highest level.
“I was fortunate to play there and you understand in South Africa when you’re playing football. When you are in Europe, the mentality shifts the concentration levels.”
Fredericks: “You know you’re playing at a higher level more concentrated. I saw how it is done when I joined the camp which Phil Masinga, Lucas Radebe and Quinton Fortune also walked in.
“I was rubbing shoulders with guys that were playing at the highest level and what happens?
“You will want to play at that level. And that is why I think for our players the earlier they go overseas, the better for everybody.”
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