Mosimane welcomes Mbokazi back into Bafana Bafana squad

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane says Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s return strengthens his squad for the double header against Kenya, after the defender missed the previous international break.

Mbokazi was absent during Mosimane’s first camp since beginning his second spell in charge of the national team, when Bafana Bafana won all three of their opening matches.

The defender is now back with the group, and Mosimane praised his attitude while acknowledging the demands placed on players arriving from Major League Soccer.

“A good boy, a good player, he wants to play. A good mentality, good energy from what I saw on the games,” Mosimane said.

He added that the MLS players had endured lengthy journeys before joining the squad and needed time to recover from the difference in time zones.

“The MLS players they traveled for one-and-a-half days to be here and time differences, we don’t adjust our time to their time, because we are a group and they just come in and gel in proper,” said Mosimane.

The coach also highlighted the experience within the group, saying the players returning from MLS had shown they came from a strong footballing environment. He noted that most of those brought back into the squad had been part of the World Cup.

“The MLS boys are focussed, they show they come from a good environment and most of them that we brought back [into the squad] went to the World Cup,” he said.

“It’s important for me also to show them respect to be part of the group without compromising what’s been happening because that’s more important.”

Mosimane explains recalls

Mosimane said several players from Hugo Broos’ World Cup squad had been recalled because they had already demonstrated their ability while representing South Africa.

He stressed, however, that recent results could not guarantee a player’s place in the team.

“We are as good as our last game, I think you know that,” he said.

“We need to keep the momentum going after the results. In the national team we never have the same players easily back.”

Bafana Bafana have also had to manage injuries. Thapelo Morena is unavailable, while Thalente Mbatha has returned from injury and was given the chance to rejoin the squad.

Mosimane said the same principle applied to Lyle Foster, Mbokazi and other players who performed well at the World Cup.

“We have injuries, we have Thapelo [Morena] out injured, we got Thalente [Mbatha] back from injury so we also had to give him the opportunity to be with this group because there was never a problem when he was around – so are the others, Lyle [Foster], Mbokazi, all the guys who played well in the World Cup, so we need to give them an opportunity,” he said.

“Everyone knows, as I said you’re only as good as the last game, if you are injured you need to have somebody to play in your position and we also need to encourage who come and play. Yes, the quality might not be the same, but we have a country to choose from.”