Mosimane sees nothing wrong with Sundowns-heavy Bafana – ‘The top in the country’

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Mosimane sees nothing wrong with Sundowns-heavy Bafana – ‘The top in the country’
Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane. Image: SAFA

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has defended his decision to include many Mamelodi Sundowns players in his squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Mosimane’s final squad that will face Guinea and Eritrea has 12 Sundowns stars, more than any other team, and has drawn criticism from some quarters.

There is a feeling that the tactician should have picked players from other teams in some positions but Mosimane insists it is not his own making as Sundowns are the team with the best players in the country.

Iqraam Rayners, Ronwen Williams and Luther Singh in Bafana camp.
Iqraam Rayners, Ronwen Williams and Luther Singh in Bafana camp. Image: SAFA

“All the West African teams when you put out the team sheet and you put ours, and it is Orlando Pirates and Sundowns,” Mosimane told the media.

Bafana coach defends squad selection

“Someone talked to me and said; ‘I never thought we had so many players from Mamelodi Sundowns’ because sometimes, you choose the best in the country and then you go, Aubrey [Modiba] then you have [Fawaaz] Basdien who has been doing so well,” he added, explaining why he has two left-backs from Sundowns.

Teboho Mokoena and Ricardo Goss in Bafana training.
Teboho Mokoena and Ricardo Goss in Bafana training. Image: SAFA

“[Miguel] Cardoso also helped us for him to play because before, Basadien was not playing and he was not in the national team but now he is playing. Sometimes you can ask me; ‘but they come from the same team?’ and I said yeah, those are the top in the country and the top of the log so we have to respect that.”

Mosimane went ahead to state that he is not reinventing the wheel but rather continuing what was happening under his predecessor Hugo Broos, whose sides were also full of Sundowns players as well as those from Orlando Pirates.

Tashreeq Matthews in Bafana training.
Tashreeq Matthews in Bafana training. Image: SAFA

“Same as goalkeepers, it is a challenge for us in the country to say the coach has selected two goalkeepers from the same team,” he added, referring to the selection of Sundowns duo Ronwen Williams and Ricardo Goss.

Mosimane defends Sundowns star’s inclusion

“It is not my story to talk about why all are from the same team. It is not my situation; it is the way it is. I found it that way, right? So, I am not here to shake the tree for the apples to fall.”

Khulumani Ndamane and Thabang Matuludi of Mamelodi Sundowns in Bafana training.
Khulumani Ndamane and Thabang Matuludi of Mamelodi Sundowns in Bafana training. Image: SAFA

Mosimane also explained why he included Sundowns right-back Thabang Matuludi, highlighting the need to nullify the threat of Guinea dangerman Serhou Guirassy.

“Guinea is a top team, they have a top striker playing for Borussia Dortmund so we have to make sure we deal with his aerial strength,” he further stated.

Bafana Bafana will face Guinea at Orlando Stadium on Saturday before playing away to Eritrea next Wednesday.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a sports journalist covering South Africa, with 16 years in sports media and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. Focused on football analysis and responsible gambling, his work has appeared on GOAL and Pulse Sports Kenya, and he is a regular football analyst on TV and radio.

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