Bafana Bafana and CD Tondela midfielder Sphephelo Sithole has opened up on the time he spent on the sidelines and the FIFA World Cup qualification showdown against Zimbabwe on Friday.

‘Yaya’, as he’s affectionately known, has not played for his country since September 2024.

The KZN-born midfielder suffered a fracture to his tibia and fibula (broken leg) during an AFCON Qualifier against South Sudan, with the midfielder stretchered off the field.

To compound Sithole’s misery, his recovery from injury took significantly longer than the 10 to 12 weeks’ prognosis by Bafana Bafana’s medical team.

“Firstly, I would like to thank God for the opportunity that he is giving me to play football again, because that injury that I got, I thought maybe, like it was the end of my career,” said Sithole.

The Portugal-based midfielder was recalled by Hugo Broos ahead of Bafana Bafana’s final World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday [18:00] and Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday [18:00].

“But fortunately, I’m here again, and I’m back with the team as well, because I can say the spirit is very good,” added Sithole.

The midfielder’s return adds further depth to Broos’ squad, as several players have emerged since Sithole’s last outing in Bafana colours.

The 26-year-old also gave insight into the mental toll his inability to be fully active on the pitch was.

“It was tough mentally, because you know, if you’re injured, you can’t do anything,” said Sithole.

The former under-17 international will be hoping to do something, as he’s fully fit, to aid the 2010 World Cup hosts’ push for qualification in their penultimate fixture with Zimbabwe.

“On this game against Zimbabwe, it’s a do-or-die game, like, we have to win it if we really want to go to the World Cup,” added Sithole.

‘Yaya’ and his countrymen will be keen to make sure that South Africa’s FIFA World Cup misery is put to bed at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday.