South Africa axe late arrival Khanyeza

World Cup hosts South Africa have axed striker Mabhuti Khanyeza for friendlies against Japan and Jamaica after he missed a training-camp deadline.

He arrived a day late on Monday and new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who took over from fellow Brazilian Joel Santana at the weekend, did not accept a claim that the Mamelodi Sundowns star was injured.

Khanyeza also fell foul of Santana and was dropped from the mid-year FIFA Confederations Cup hosted by South Africa after citing a family tragedy for arriving late.

Golden Arrows striker Richard Henyekane will replace Khanyeza while Ajax Cape Town defender-cum-midfielder Lance David comes in for injured Sundowns fullback Siboniso Gaxa.

The rest of the 24-man squad arrived fit, including Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy, who was ignored for the Confederations Cup after shunning friendlies against Norway and Portugal two months before.

Bafana Bafana (The Boys) complete their friendly schedule for this year by playing World Cup qualifiers Japan in Port Elizabeth on November 14 and Jamaica in Bloemfontein three days later.