Broos Rates Sesane Highly
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has explained his decision to include Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Sesane in his final 23-man squad that is set to take on Congo-Brazzaville in the two matches of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Broos’ charges will host Congo at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Friday in the first leg of their double-header clash before jetting off for the return leg at Stade Aphonse Massemba-Debat stadium in Brazzaville on 15 October.
Bafana has been boosted by the return of captain Ronwen Williams but will be without the services of Siyabonga Ngezana who is out due to injury.
Now, Sesane has been handed his maiden call-up to the national team in place of the FCSB defender. This comes after the Orlando Pirates academy graduate enjoyed a meteoric rise at the Soweto giants since his return to the club from a loan spell in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, featuring in all matches so far this season.
Sesane was named man of the match as Pirates overcame Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
“When we had to replace Ngezana we were looking at other players, Sesane, but also a few others and we decided to take him because he played all the games with Orlando Pirates since the beginning of the season, ” said Broos.
The Belgian mentor went on to explain that Sesane’s ability to play out from the back is one of the few attributes that left him impressed and prompted him to pick the 24-year-old center-back for his latest squad.
“He plays good, he’s a good defender, he’s also good at rebuilding, ” the 72-year-old stated.
“So that means after the discussions with my friend Helman [Mkhalele, Broos assistant] we decided to take him, and I think it was the best choice to replace Ngezana at the moment.”
Overall, Sesane has featured in 11 matches across all competitions for the Buccaneers in the ongoing campaign and has formed a solid partnership with Olisa Ndah at the heart of the Pirates’ defence keeping seven clean sheets in the process.
