Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has lauded the impact Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha made after making his international debut on Friday night.
The 24-year-old was rewarded with a call-up to the national team owing to his impressive displays for the Buccaneers. With Bafana Bafana trailing 2-1 against Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, the former SuperSport United was thrown into the deep end.
Mbatha rewarded Hugo Broos faith with a 95th-minute equalise that saved his team's blushes in front of thousands who had filled the Orlando Stadium.
‘He was very good' – Boos sings Mbatha praises
The 72-year-old has shared what he felt about Bucs midfielder, especially after his strike in the stoppages.
“I wanted to see from everybody what I wanted to see when we went down 2-1 and the way he came in, [he] was very good, he was very good,” Broos stated.
“So I think also for those [new] players, we discussed it before the game, what will we do, do we go for players who've played competitive games, or do we go on with players who know the automatism in the team and so on.
“It was a choice to make, but the moment we had to [chase the game] we put those players on who are maybe a bit fresher and sharper, and Thalente was one of those players today.”
What is the next target for Mbatha and Bafana?
On September 10, Bafana Bafana will be in Juba for their second game in Group K against the Bright Stars.
The Eastern Africans fell by a solitary goal against Congo in their opening fixture, and Broos hopes to hand them another defeat when they meet.
“The points, it’s a deception. Hey, I’m disappointed we only have a point; but we have a point, that is true and now it’s more [imperative] that we win next Tuesday in South Sudan, that is for sure.”