Orlando Pirates legend Moeneeb Josephs does not feel that Mohau Nkota’s transfer to Saudi Arabia will affect his chances in the Bafana Bafana squad.
Nkota secured a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League when he joined Al-Ettifaq, signing a three-year contract at the club.
The 20-year-old has left Pirates after just one season in the top flight for an adventure in the cash-rich league but his transfer has been interpreted differently.
There are fears that the youngster might end up not playing regularly as he was doing at Pirates, where he made 39 appearances in his only top flight season, which would greatly affect his chances in the national team when the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is around the corner as well as the 2026 World Cup.
Josephs backs Nkota to retain Bafana spot
However, Josephs feels Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will not care much which league Nkota plays in and will still hand him a call-up as long as he is playing regularly at club level.
“If they [Ettifaq] have bought him for R30 million, it is a good deal for the club and I am sure he will be happy. He will also be securing the bag for him and his family,” Josephs said on SoccerBeat.
“I think for coach Hugo Broos, where you play doesn’t define whether you will be in the squad or not. I think how you play, how you adapt and how you are doing in the league that you are playing in then he selects you because he selects anyone.”
Nkota, who managed seven goals and five assists last season, made his Bafana Bafana debut last month during friendly matches against Tanzania and Mozambique, playing 90 minutes in the second match, when he provided two assists as South Africa won 2-0.
