Mosimane warns Bafana Bafana stars must earn their places despite reputation

Pitso Mosimane says no player in the current Bafana Bafana squad is guaranteed a place on reputation alone, insisting South Africa do not yet have a figure with the influence of Lionel Messi.

The new Bafana coach was speaking to the media at Milpark Stadium about the return of Lyle Foster and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who both missed his first national team camp because of injury.

Foster and Mbokazi are established members of the national team, but their return will not automatically result in a place in the starting XI. Mosimane says they must compete with players who stepped in during their absence and performed well.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach wants selection to be determined by current form and effort. He also expects returning players to recognise the contribution of those who took their opportunities while they were unavailable.

“It’s not that we’re paving ways for names. I have to be honest and give the boys a fair chance to play and to make them aware that if you work hard you will keep the jersey and also to make aware of anybody who comes that you’ve got to respect people who are playing well at that time in your position when you are not around,” Mosimane said.

“You’ve got to have the respect that you would have felt also when you were playing and then somebody else comes now and you’re playing well and then you must make way, right? We are not yet in a position where we have Lionel Messi as the boss of the team.”

Mosimane used Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham to illustrate the exceptional status held by players whose influence is consistently demonstrated at the highest level.

“You can say we have to make sure that we pave way because this guy is so much more influential than the other teams. Yes, [Kylian] Mbappe and them, they are influential in the team and week in, week out they are showing what they are and when they are fit and ready they are selected,” he added.

He also referred to Bellingham’s return after injury as an example of a player proving he deserved to be restored to the team.

“You saw [Jude] Bellingham, he had injuries and all that but he went to the World Cup and he showed the coach that he deserves to be back and there’s no arguments in that space when you come and do what Bellingham did in the World Cup.”

The comments underline the standards Mosimane intends to establish during his second stint in charge of Bafana Bafana, with competition for places expected to be central to his approach.

Foster and Mbokazi will hope to regain their positions after returning to the squad, but Mosimane’s message is that neither reputation nor previous performances can guarantee selection.