Mosimane names first Bafana squad and stresses Afcon importance
'The priority is qualifying, nothing else,' said 'Jingles'
Pitso Mosimane has offered insight into his reasoning behind selecting Orlando Pirates striker Yanela Mbuthuma for his first Bafana Bafana squad since returning as coach. Mbuthuma is among the 30 players included in the South African squad for upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Guinea (September 26) and Eritrea (September 30), alongside a friendly match against Egypt on October 4th.
Although the Pirates forward's addition has sparked questions, especially concerning his goal-scoring record, Mosimane stands by his decision, emphasizing the player's physical presence and determination as the primary factors. The coach clarified that Mbuthuma is indeed a national team player and has demonstrated his goal-scoring capability for Orlando Pirates, even if it may not be at the desired frequency.
Despite acknowledging that Mbuthuma's goal tally could be higher, Mosimane believes the 24-year-old possesses the necessary attributes to earn his place in the Bafana Bafana jersey. Mosimane appealed to fans to grant the Pirates forward an opportunity to showcase his talents on the international stage, as he embarks on his second coaching stint with the national team.
South Africa's next fixtures include games against Guinea and Eritrea, followed by a friendly against Egypt, with Mosimane's decision to include Mbuthuma hinging on the striker's potential contributions to his team's style of play.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
