Pitso Mosimane hints at ‘top’ Soweto Derby midfielder for Bafana Bafana

Pitso Mosimane has revealed he is considering an unnamed midfielder from the Soweto Derby for a future Bafana Bafana call-up.

The national team coach described the player as a “top player” during an appearance on SABC Sport on Thursday, but declined to identify him.

Mosimane’s comments came only hours after SAFA confirmed his final 27-man squad for this month’s two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya. The timing underlined the competition for places in the national team.

“There’s this other midfielder who is an eight. I don’t want to say the name, but yena uyashisa (he’s on fire), and we cannot ignore him, right?” Mosimane said.

“He’s been playing in the derby, just to give you an idea. He’s an eight. He’s a top player.”

The player appeared in last Saturday’s Betway Premiership meeting between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.

That detail narrows the list to central midfielders who played in the match but were not included in the latest Bafana Bafana squad.

Orlando Pirates started Thalente Mbatha in midfield, while Thapelo Mokobodi and Simphiwe Selepe also featured, with Mthetheleli Mthiyane introduced as a substitute.

Kaizer Chiefs used Sibongiseni Mthethwa, Lebohang Maboe and Mduduzi Shabalala in central midfield.

Mokobodi emerges as leading candidate

Among those players, Thapelo Mokobodi appears to be the strongest candidate based on his performance and statistics.

The 23-year-old was named man of the match after the derby and has made seven appearances this season. Although he has not scored, he has provided two assists and created seven chances.

That record of contribution and creativity could explain why he has attracted Mosimane’s attention ahead of future international camps.

However, Lebohang Maboe is another possible interpretation of the coach’s comments. The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder was left out of the previous Bafana Bafana camp only because of a late injury.

Maboe’s absence through injury, rather than selection, suggests he remains a player Mosimane values. His inclusion among the midfielders used in the Soweto Derby means he also fits the limited clues provided by the Bafana Bafana coach.

Mosimane has therefore left the identity of his preferred number eight unresolved, with both Mokobodi’s derby display and Maboe’s recent international omission offering plausible explanations.