Themba Zwane reveals advice to Sipho Mbule that sparked Bafana return

Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana midfielder Themba Zwane has opened up on a chat that he had with Sipho Mbule when he told him how to regain his place in the national team.

Mbule returned to the Bafana Bafana squad in September this year after four years out and that came after his signing for Orlando Pirates ahead of this season.

Master Chef, as Mbule is popularly known, had well-document off-field issues at his previous club Sundowns and on loan at Sekhukhune United last season but has been reborn under coach Abdeslam Ouaddou at Pirates.

Zwane lauds Mbule for heeding his advice

That made Bafana boss Hugo Broos take notice and he handed him a call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria and when he impressed, he remained in the team.

Zwane, who played with Mbule at Sundowns and also knows him for long, was not surprised as he had already had a chat with the midfielder over how he could regain his place in the national team.

“Ja, 100%, I know the quality of Sipho,” Zwane told iDiski Times over Mbule’s return to the national team.

“I mean, being close from when he played for SuperSport, and he came to Sundowns, we always have chatted together.

What did ‘Mshishi’ tell ‘Master Chef’?

“I think he’s got the quality that is amazing. And for me, I knew that if Sipho focuses, obviously, he will be here in the national team, I mean, and we had small talks before he went to Pirates.

“I told him, I said, for me, ‘I think if you can push yourself, you will be in the national team, 100%’.

“And that’s what he did, and I’m happy for him, and he’s doing well, he’s putting more effort, he makes the team play, which is good for us.”

Since his return to the Bafana Bafana squad, Mbule has started all four matches and he is among the team set to face Zambia in a friendly match on Saturday as he looks to keep his spot ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.