Mosimane Welcomes Mbokazi Back and Explains Why the MLS Boys Are Returning
Mbekezeli Mbokazi is back in the Bafana Bafana fold, and Pitso Mosimane has plenty of nice things to say about him.
The defender missed the last international break, when Mosimane won his first three games of his second reign through injury.
Now, with a double-header against Kenya coming up, the coach has explained why Mbokazi and other absentees are back.
“He is a good boy, a good player, and he wants to play. He has a good mentality, and a good energy from what I saw on the games,” Mosimane said.
Mosimane also spoke up for the MLS-based players, who flew for a day and a half to reach camp and had to adjust to the time difference.
“The MLS players they travelled for one-and-a-half days to be here and time differences, we don’t adjust our time to their time, because we are a group and they just come in and gel in.
“The MLS boys are focused, they show they come from a good environment and most of them that we brought back into the squad went to the World Cup.
“It’s important for me also to show them respect to be part of the group without compromising what’s been happening because that’s more important.”
Mosimane said he recalled several members of Hugo Broos’ World Cup squad because they have proved their quality for the national side.
“We are as good as our last game, I think you know that. We need to keep the momentum going after the results. In the national team we never have the same players easily back.”
Thapelo Morena is injured, and Thalente Mbatha has recovered and returned, a player Mosimane said never caused a problem when he was in camp. Lyle Foster and Mbokazi, who both played well at the World Cup, also get their chance.
“Everyone knows, as I said you’re only as good as the last game. If you are injured you need to have somebody to play in your position and we also need to encourage who come and play. Yes, the quality might not be the same, but we have a country to choose from.”
Bafana host Kenya on Friday at Orlando Amstel Arena at 6pm, with the camp now a mix of old favourites and fresh faces.
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