Mosimane welcomes back World Cup players for Kenya double-header

Pitso Mosimane has welcomed Mbekezeli Mbokazi back into the Bafana Bafana squad, saying the Chicago Fire defender has shown the right mentality since joining camp for the first time during the coach’s second spell in charge.

Mbokazi missed Mosimane’s opening camp in September, when South Africa began the coach’s return with three successive victories over Guinea, Eritrea and Egypt. He is now included for the upcoming two-match series against Kenya, along with Chicago Fire team-mate Puso Dithejane.

Houston Dynamo forward Lyle Foster, who plays in Major League Soccer (MLS), is also part of the squad. Thapelo Morena has returned from injury, while Thalente Mbatha has also been given the opportunity to rejoin the group.

Mosimane praised Mbokazi’s attitude and performances after the defender arrived at camp.

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

The coach acknowledged the demands placed on players travelling from the United States, but said they were expected to adapt quickly to the national team’s schedule.

“The MLS players travelled 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 properly,” he said.

“The MLS boys are focused, they show they come from a good environment and most of them that we brought back (into the squad) went to the World Cup.

“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.”

World Cup players recalled

Mosimane also outlined why he had brought back several footballers who were part of Hugo Broos’ squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup but were unavailable for his first camp.

He said their previous contributions merited recognition, while stressing that players who had filled those positions during their absence also needed to be rewarded and kept involved.

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

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

“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.

“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.”

Bafana Bafana will face Kenya in the opening match of the double-header at Orlando before travelling to Nairobi for the return fixture.

Mosimane is seeking a continuation of the winning run from his first three matches as South Africa prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.