Sipho Mbule: Bafana coach clears the air on Pirates star’s omission

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has clarified his decision to exclude Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule from the national squad for the upcoming friendly matches against Panama.

The national team is scheduled to play two fixtures this month, first on March 27 at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium, followed by a second match four days later at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

According to Broos, Mbule’s inconsistent performances are the primary reason for his omission. The decision was not entirely unexpected, as the former Mamelodi Sundowns player has struggled for regular playing time at his club since the beginning of the year.

Broos on why Sipho Mbule was overlooked

During the official squad announcement on Thursday, the Belgian coach acknowledged Mbule’s past contributions, particularly during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

“Sipho helped us a lot. During the World Cup qualifiers, he was really outstanding, but you also have to be consistent,” Broos stated as per KickOff.

“It’s not enough to play two or four good games and then suddenly you drop,” he continued. “He doesn’t play anymore in the Pirates team, and there has to be a reason for that.”

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Mbule, who had been a key fixture in the Pirates squad in the first half of the season, has featured sparingly since returning from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The midfielder has just two substitute appearances this year in the league while he has also had to deal with an injury in recent weeks.

Mbule will hope to play more regularly after the international break as it will determine whether he makes the Bafana Bafana World Cup squad or not.