Mosimane challenges Foster to make the most of Bafana Bafana recall

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has told Lyle Foster that the striker must take responsibility for making the most of his return to the national squad.

Foster was left out of Mosimane’s first camp last month, when Bafana Bafana beat Guinea and Eritrea in two Afcon qualifiers before claiming a friendly victory over Egypt in Cairo.

The 26-year-old has since been recalled 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 scheduled for 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, who has previously experienced mental health difficulties, recently moved to US Major League Soccer (MLS) club Houston Dynamo on loan from English second-tier side Burnley.

He has made eight appearances for Houston Dynamo and scored once since arriving in the United States.

Mosimane said he had spoken privately with Foster about his mental state, but stressed that the details of those discussions would remain confidential. The coach also said Foster needed to work his way back to the form that prompted Burnley to sign him from Belgian club KVC Westerlo 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.”

Of the seven overseas-based players, only Olwethu Makhanya, Luther Singh and Ime Okon had trained by yesterday afternoon.

Relebohile Mofokeng, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Puso Dithejane and Samukele Kabini were expected to arrive last night.