Bafana Bafana's game against Mauritius was a chance for coach Joel Santana to decide on his final squad for the Confederations Cup, but sport.iafrica.com's Khaya Ndubane wonders if it truly served its purpose.

With the game turning out to be a one-sided affair ? with Bafana dominating the match from start to finish ? it is difficult to say which players shone for Bafana on the day.

And with Santana opting to use his number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune for the entire match, it is unclear as to what criteria he will use to select his three goalkeepers. Whoever gets the axe will feel hard done by as he was never given a chance to convince Santana of his prowess.

For a player like Masilo Modubi, who was never given a run in this match, it will be a bitter pill to swallow if he does not make the final cut.

Katlego Mphela's inclusion in the 30-man provisional squad raised criticism from the media, and the soccer fans at large, and the Mamelodi Sundowns striker did not do any justice to his cause when he fluffed easy opportunities on Saturday. Mphela is surely the favourite to get the axe.

It is still anyone's guess as to who will make the final cut for the 23-man squad, but knowing Santana, he will stick with his 'favourite' players.

I say 'favourite' because some of the players he selects on a regular basis for Bafana do not justify their inclusion in the squad. Players like Siyabonga Nkosi, Matthew Booth and MacBeth Sibaya do not deserve to play for Bafana, but one can be surethat these players will play in the Confederations Cup.

Their inclusion in the squad will come at the expense of good players like Thembinkosi 'Tera' Fanteni, Masilo Modubi, Elrio van Heerden and Bryce Moon who unlike Nkosi and Booth are regulars in their teams.

With all eyes firmly on South Africa, the country's national team is at the forefront. A dismal display in the Confederations Cup will do more harm than good. Yes, South Africa is busy building top-class stadiums, roads and infrastructure, but all of these things will come to nothing if the host country fails to perform.

So, whoever is advising Santana must remind him about the importance of doing well in the Confederations Cup. As failure might have dire consequences for the country and his career.

Santana must choose the best available players and these players must not be chosen based on names or the leagues that they play in, but because they are capable of producing the goods for Bafana.

He needs to select players who are prepared to die on the field for their country not the prima donnas who are in it for the money or the advancement of their careers.

So, come on Santana, South Africa is waiting for you to select the heroes who will take this country forward!

  • Do you think the Mauritius game served its purpose? Which players impressed you on Saturday? Let us know what YOU think!