‘I will always be available for Bafana’
During the 2021 calendar year, no South African footballer scored more goals or was directly involved in more goal contributions at club level than Lars Veldwijk.
The 30-year-old striker currently plies his trade in South Korea with top-flight side Suwon FC and recorded a return of 18 goals and six assists in the K League 1 last term, ending the year as the second highest goalscorer in the division and earning a spot in the Best XI.
However, despite his prolific form in the front of goal, Veldwijk remained out of the national team reckoning – having last featured at the 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations – and was not called-up by new head coach Hugo Broos throughout South Africa’s failed 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Bafana Bafana ultimately fell short to Group G rivals Ghana after being pipped to top spot on the goals-scored rule, with both nations having ended level on points.
There was a protest to FIFA by the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) amid allegations of wrongdoing by the match officials during the final game in the pool against the Black Stars.
SAFA’s complaint was ultimately dismissed by the world football’s governing body
