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Cape Town - Platinum Stars coach Allan Freese has paid tribute to Siyabonga Mpontshane after the goalkeeper earned a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad.
The 28-year-old has been drafted in by South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria.
Mpontshane will be vying for a starting spot alongside Darren Keet and Brilliant Khuzwayo, with Mashaba as yet undecided on who will line up between the posts in Durban on Saturday.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Mpontshane, who had fought his way back into the Dikwena starting line-up earlier this season after being dropped for Kabelo Dambe.
And Freese is pleased with Mpontshane's response after he lost his place to Dambe, while the coach also congratulated the gloveman on his Bafana call-up.
He told Sowetan Live: "I've said before that he [Mpontshane] went off the rails a little bit. So we had to play Kabelo in a few of our games.
"I think Mpontshane has come back strong and pulled up his socks to earn back his place.
"I am also happy for him that he has made it back into the national team."
This is not the first time Mpontshane has been called up to the senior squad, although he has yet to make his debut.
The 28-year-old has been drafted in by South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria.
Mpontshane will be vying for a starting spot alongside Darren Keet and Brilliant Khuzwayo, with Mashaba as yet undecided on who will line up between the posts in Durban on Saturday.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for Mpontshane, who had fought his way back into the Dikwena starting line-up earlier this season after being dropped for Kabelo Dambe.
And Freese is pleased with Mpontshane's response after he lost his place to Dambe, while the coach also congratulated the gloveman on his Bafana call-up.
He told Sowetan Live: "I've said before that he [Mpontshane] went off the rails a little bit. So we had to play Kabelo in a few of our games.
"I think Mpontshane has come back strong and pulled up his socks to earn back his place.
"I am also happy for him that he has made it back into the national team."
This is not the first time Mpontshane has been called up to the senior squad, although he has yet to make his debut.
