Bafana’s Mosimane raves about Soweto derby star who ‘is on fire’ – People will say why don’t I see that?

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has opened up about a midfielder who impressed him in the recent Soweto derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

The defending champions hosted the Glamour Boys at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, October 31. Bucs won 2-1 thanks to strikes from Yanela Mbuthuma and Tshepang Moremi. Amakhosi scored their goal through Pule Mmodi.

On Thursday, Mosimane named his final squad for back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) against Benni McCarthy’s Kenya.

Jingles argues he considered having him but couldn’t leave out Thalente Mbatha who has been doing well for the national team. He further explained where the midfielder is helping on the pitch.

I have to respect Mbatha

“There’s this other midfielder who is an eight. I don’t want to say the name, but yena uyashisa (he’s on fire), and we cannot ignore him, right? He’s been playing in the derby, just to give you an idea. He’s an eight. He’s a top player,” he said on SABC Sport.

“People will say, why don’t I see that? But I also have to respect Thalente [Mbatha] because he played in the World Cup.

“Who is going to help me on defending my corner kicks and free-kicks? Because corner kicks and free-kicks are part of the game, you know. Look at the goal that Thalente scored.

“Yeah, and you can say he hasn’t been in his usual form, but he has been injured. We have to give him a chance for him to come back, right? So, we can have that in the midfield,” he explained.