Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs captain Tefu Mashamaite says that while he is happy to have made a return to the Bafana Bafana fold, he knows he must still fight for a berth in the starting XI.
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The towering defender's recent commanding performances in Amakhosi colours have forced coach Shakes Mashaba to redraft him into the national team setup ahead of their upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifying double header against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
And while the centre-back is thrilled to once again be in the South Africa team, he knows he cannot afford to rest on his laurels.
"I’m obviously happy to have got the call up again, but it doesn’t mean the job is done because I must still go there and fight for a place in the starting lineup," Mashamaite exclusively told Football411.
"I cannot relax now or even start congratulating myself because that isn’t the nature of the game.
"The nature of the game is that I must go and fight for my place in the team.”
Mashamaite, 30, along with Chiefs team-mate Reneilwe Letsholonyane, 32, are surprise packages in the current Bafana squad after coach Mashaba had previously stated he will select younger players who are in line with the South African Football Association’s vision for the 2022 World Cup.