Bafana Bafana new boys Bradley Cross and Olwethu Makhanya both expressed delight and excitement at their surprise selection to the World Cup squad when speaking to the media on Thursday. Watch all the World Cup action live on SuperSport.
The uncapped pair were named on Wednesday when coach Hugo Broos revealed his final 26-man squad for the finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Makhanya will provide cover at centre back while Cross comes in as a left back option, especially after the hamstring injury suffered by Aubrey Modiba in the first leg of the African Champions League final. Cross can also play as a centre back if needed.
“Firstly, for me, it's a dream come true and it's a really big honour for me and my family to be able to represent the national team,” said Makhanya, who has been in the United States for the last three years at Philadelphia Union.
“This has definitely been a long-term goal for myself,” added Cross at a Johannesburg press conference.
“I've made the preliminary squad quite a few times. So I just told myself I had to work hard and try and prove to the coach that I'm capable,” the Chiefs defender added.
Makhanya had only been told about a possible call-up last week.
“When I got the message, I was just excited. You know, I wasn't really shocked, but it did come as a surprise. There were times where I thought it would come and it didn't come. So when it did come, I was just excited and just feel a lot of pride and gratitude.
“When I left the country to go to the USA, I was very young. I was away from home for the first time, and I was going through some stuff, but it's been a really great journey. I started out playing in the reserve team and then I got an opportunity to play in the first team, and ever since then, things are just coming together for me.”
Makhanya expressed his gratitude to coach Bradley Carnell, who the Philadelphia Union sacked on Wednesday.
“Coach Bradley has been a really great coach. I've only been with him for like a season and a half, and I've learned so many things from him as a coach, as a person on and off the field. He’s a really great coach, great human being, and I really hope he understands how much I appreciate the opportunity that he gave me and my family to showcase myself.”
Cross has previously played for South Africa at junior level.
“For me, since I was young, I was in the youth setups. I think I was in the under-20 side at the age of 16. And then I went overseas. It wasn't easy, obviously, that side, there was a lot of competition. And then my decision was to come back to South Africa, and my main goal was to get into the Bafana Bafana squad. And ever since then, I've been working hard, staying focused.
“I don't really focus too much on social media. I rather stick to myself and what I can control. Like I said before, I just work hard, put my head down, and look ahead,” added Cross.
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