Pitso Mosimane challenges Lyle Foster to seize Bafana Bafana return

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has urged Lyle Foster to make the most of his recall after leaving the striker out of the squad for last month’s successful run of international matches.

Foster was omitted from Mosimane’s first camp, when South Africa beat Guinea and Eritrea in Afcon qualifiers before defeating Egypt in a friendly in Cairo.

The 26-year-old has now been selected for two successive Afcon qualifiers against Kenya. The opening match will be played at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday at 18:00, with the return fixture taking place in Nairobi four days later.

“It’s important to give him [Foster] a chance also, to be around. Let’s see, the appetite is there and you can only see it at training and in the match. Yes, a very good striker… I don’t think we can forget the goals he scored for us to qualify for the World Cup [he scored twice in 2026 World Cup qualifiers],” Mosimane said at a press conference in Milpark yesterday.

“He’s a top player, but in football, yesterday’s price isn’t today’s price. Let’s see what he has… give him a chance to be part of the national team. It’s not up to me, it’s up to him now.”

Foster recently moved to US Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo on loan from English second-tier club Burnley. He has scored once in eight appearances for the American club.

The forward has previously spoken about mental health difficulties, and Mosimane said the pair had discussed Foster’s wellbeing privately. The coach stressed that the details of those conversations would remain confidential, while also making clear that Foster must work to recover the form that earned him a move from Belgian club KVC Westerlo to Burnley in January 2025.

“We had a private conversation. I can’t say what we talk about because I must protect myself and the player, and respect because that space is sacred. We need to build trust and confidence within the team or between me and the players,” Mosimane explained.

“I believe he is playing now few minutes not 90 minutes, but it’s very good that he’s starting and all that. Honestly he still has a lot of work to catch up to be at his peak, where he was when he went to the UK.”

Mosimane also provided an update on the arrival of the overseas-based members of his squad.

By yesterday afternoon, only Olwethu Makhanya, Luther Singh and Ime Okon had trained among the seven players based abroad. Relebohile Mofokeng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Puso Dithejane and Samukele Kabini were expected to arrive last night.