Mosimane Defends Selecting 13 Sundowns Players For Bafana

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has defended the national team’s heavy Mamelodi Sundowns representation, saying their dominance is justified by the club’s recent success.

Sundowns have 13 players in the Bafana Bafana squad as Mosimane prepares his team for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea.

The Brazilians’ strong representation has raised questions, with two goalkeepers from the same club also included in the squad. However, Mosimane believes Sundowns’ dominance reflects their performances and success on the domestic stage.

“I was so shocked yesterday [on Sunday]. I spoke to somebody next to me and said, ‘Oh my days, I never thought we had so many players from Mamelodi Sundowns,’” Mosimane said after attending Sundowns’ FIFA Intercontinental Cup victory over Al Ahli on Saturday.

The 13 players out of a 30-man squad represent 43.3% of the entire national team roster coming from a single domestic club—the highest single-club concentration in Bafana Bafana history since the 1996 AFCON era.

“Because sometimes you choose the best left-backs in the country. Then you go to Mbekezeli Mbokazi, you’ve got Samukelo Kabini, you’ve got, I mean, Aubrey Modiba, and then you have Fawaz Basadien, who has been doing so well.

“And sometimes you can ask me, ‘But they come from the same team.’ I say, ‘Yeah, those are the ones who won the trophy (FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup) last week, right? And those are the ones who are also top of the log. So you’ve got to respect that.’

“So it’s a challenge for us in the country to say, ‘Oh, the coach has selected two goalkeepers from the same team, right?’

“So it’s not my story to talk about why they are all in the same team, right? Maybe one should be playing for another team that is a top team, but it’s not my situation, right?

“It’s the way it is. I found it like this, right? So I’m not here to shake the tree for the apples to fall. I want to have the team also represent the country.

“So you can ask those questions. Why are they all in one place and all stacked in one place, right?

“It would be nice if many top players went there. I was afraid that Thabang Matuludi was not going to go there. And I don’t want to be fighting with Kamogelo Sebelebele. So let the competition be there.

“I’m so happy that it happened that way, right? So it’s beautiful. So let it go that way.

“I wish I could do that in all the positions.”

The Sundowns players in the squad include captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, alongside Ricardo Goss.

In defence, Mosimane has selected Aubrey Modiba, Fawaz Basadien, Thabang Matuludi, Thapelo Morena and Khulumani Ndamane.

The midfield department includes Teboho Mokoena, Bathusi Aubaas and Themba Zwane, while the forwards are Iqraam Rayners, Cassius Mailula and Tashreeq Matthews.

Mosimane also provided an update on Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebohang Maboe, who arrived in the Bafana camp despite suffering an ankle injury during Sunday’s goalless Betway Premiership draw against Golden Arrows.

Maboe was not kicked by an opponent during the match, but the injury left the midfielder with a tender ankle as the Bafana medical team continues to monitor him.

“He’s got a niggling ankle. You could see the injury. He was never even kicked by anybody, so it’s tender,” Mosimane added.

“The doctor has briefed me that we should be careful with him and give him a chance. We have a three-week camp, right?

“So I don’t think he’s going for a scan. And then the scan will tell us how far he is.

“I think he has worked hard to be in Bafana. He should be disappointed by the injury, and no one kicked him. So sometimes it’s football, right?

“So, yeah, let’s hope Lebo recovers and goes for it.”

Bafana have already started preparations for their upcoming fixtures, with Guinea first up at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.

Mosimane’s side will then travel to Egypt to face Eritrea on 30 September before remaining in the country for another fixture against the Pharaohs on 4 October.

The match against Egypt will be Bafana’s final fixture of the FIFA international break and will be played as an international friendly.