Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo has offered his perspective on the ongoing exclusion of Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa from the national team.
Mabasa has been in impressive form since returning to the Buccaneers from a loan spell at Moroka Swallows. He has contributed four goals and an assist in 18 appearances across all competitions this season.
While he was included in a recent Bafana Bafana provisional squad, he ultimately missed the final cut. Khumalo believes that coach Hugo Broos is aware of the pressure on Mabasa to perform at the international level and is taking a cautious approach.
The former Bafana star suggests that Broos may be following a similar strategy to the one he employed with Themba Zwane, who was also initially overlooked before eventually earning a regular spot in the national team.
Khumalo is confident that Mabasa will eventually get his opportunity to shine for Bafana Bafana.
DOCTOR KHUMALO ON MABASA’S CONTINUOUS EXCLUSION FROM BAFANA
“I’ve tried, personally, just to pinch a little bit of his thoughts and like, how do you leave out [Tshegofatso] Mabasa,” said Khumalo in an interview with iDiski Times.
“And to be honest, he knows his story, because we might be putting him under pressure, but he knows what exactly he wants.
“How long did it take him to call Themba into the squad, and who is the best player for him now, it’s Themba. So what he’s trying to do, he wants that nucleus of players to gel, in order for those who are coming in, in the next three, four years, that things become concrete.
“Because chopping and changing, that social factor, it’s not going to be 100%. With our generation with Clive, no, no, no, no, guys.
“Clive, I can tell you his starting eleven with his eyes closed – ‘Andre, Sizwe, David, what-what’. That’s what he’s doing. So another two years, then I’ll be saying, ja, now they have a 96 mentality.”
