Israel-based defender Bevan Fransman has been named in South Africa’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira added the Maccabi Netanya centre-back to the squad after Morgan Gould failed to win his battle against injury.
Gould, who was in contention for a starting place, underwent an operation in March after damaging his ankle.
Fransman, 26, missed the recent two training camps in Germany and Brazil because of commitments with his club.
Parreira also selected four goalkeepers, including Germany-based Rowen Fernandez who passed a late fitness test, despite having said he would trim that tally down to three earlier this week.
After two months of training with mainly local-based players, the Bafana Bafana camp is being boosted by the arrivals of the overseas contingent.
Striker Benni McCarthy arrived at the team’s Johannesburg hotel on Wednesday morning, a day after Fernandez, while Bernard Parker, whose FC Twente were crowned Dutch champions ten days ago, was already in camp.
South Africa’s all-time top scorer McCarthy arrives with concerns over his fitness after playing just 112 minutes for West Ham since February.
“Benni arrived this morning and I’m sure the coaches are already putting him through his paces,” said defender Matthew Booth.
“He’s looking good, he’s a professional and he’ll put his shoulder to the wheel and make sure he’s ready for the World Cup.”
With Fulham’s Kagisho Dikgacoi participating in Wednesday’s Europa Cup final and Portsmouth’s Aaron Mokoena preparing for Saturday’s FA Cup final, Parreira won’t have his full contingent of players until next week.
Fransman’s call-up means eleven players in Bafana Bafana’s provisional squad are overseas-based, with the remaining nineteen plying their trade in South Africa’s domestic league.
The World Cup hosts open the 2010 finals against Mexico on 11 June in Johannesburg before facing fellow Group A rivals Uruguay five days later ahead of a final clash with France on 22 June.
Full South Africa squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United), Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Moeneeb Joseph (Orlando Pirates).
Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Mdledle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Bryce Moon (PAOK, Greece), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel).
Midfielders: Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Franklin Cale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia).
Strikers: Benni McCarthy (West Ham United, England), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Holland).
