South Africa coach has told returning Kaizer Chiefs midfielder what to do to win his place back
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has told Njabulo Blom to ensure he gets regular game time at Kaizer Chiefs if he wants to return to the national team.
Blom has not been part of the Bafana Bafana squad since October 13, 2023 when he played 75 minutes in a friendly match against eSwatini that ended goalless before watching from the bench as South Africa drew 1-1 with Ivory Coast four days later.
The midfielder had been selected after featuring regularly for MLS side St Louis City FC but as his minutes later reduced, so were the call-ups to the national team.
Midfielder looking to kick start his career at Kaizer Chiefs
Blom has endured tough few months at the Missouri-based club and made a sensational return to his former club Chiefs on Tuesday with hopes of kick starting his career and Broos says the door to the national team is not locked but he must work hard to get a chance.
“Let’s hope that Njabulo will come back to the level when he left South Africa. I have said it many times that it is good to go abroad but you have to play,” Broos told the media on Thursday.
“In the beginning [at St Louis] he played, then played less. We called him more than a year ago, after that, he didn’t play again.
What does Njabulo Blom need to return to Bafana Bafana?
“So, let us hope now with this transfer to Chiefs he will play, and play good, and players who are playing good are always a candidate for Bafana Bafana.”
Broos has maintained his stance on South African players, especially those based in the US, as he rarely gives them a call-up if they are not regulars at their clubs.
Blom now has an opportunity to convince the veteran tactician given he will be playing back home.
South Africa face Uganda at the Orlando Stadium in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers before an away clash with South Sudan next Tuesday.
