Pitso Mosimane has revealed just how heavily Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates are represented in his latest Bafana Bafana squad.
The national team coach was speaking ahead of South Africa’s upcoming clash against Guinea. He admitted that he was surprised by the number of players coming from Sundowns.
Mosimane pointed out that the current squad reflects the strength of the two leading clubs in South African football. He highlighted how Sundowns lifted a trophy last week and remain at the top of the Betway Premiership.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS DOMINATE BAFANA SQUAD
Mosimane explained that some selections were influenced by the performances of players in their respective positions.
He highlighted the competition at left-back: Aubrey Modiba and Fawaaz Basadien. The Bafana coach pointed out that Basadien has become a regular after establishing himself at Sundowns.
According to Mosimane, Basadien’s improvement has been helped by playing consistently, with his club situation allowing him to push for a place in the national team.
“Those are the ones who win the trophy last week, right? And those are the ones who are also top of their log. So you have to respect that,” Mosimane said.
The coach also addressed the fact that several goalkeepers in the squad come from the same club, acknowledging that it can raise questions about the concentration of talent at certain teams.
However, Mosimane stressed that he cannot change the make-up of the domestic league simply to spread national-team selections across more clubs.
Sundowns have 13 players, while Pirates have six in the squad.
ORLANDO PIRATES ALSO HAVE BAFANA STARS
Orlando Pirates also feature prominently in the squad, with Mosimane acknowledging the Buccaneers’ contribution to the national team.
The coach believes the concentration of quality at Sundowns and Pirates is simply a reflection of where some of the country’s best-performing players currently play.
He also mentioned the potential movement of players and joked about being relieved that one particular transfer did not happen, allowing the competition between clubs to remain intact.
Mosimane said he would love to have this kind of strength and depth across every position.
For Bafana, however, the immediate priority is Guinea. The West African side represents a major challenge, with Mosimane acknowledging the quality available to their opponents.
The coach will therefore look to the players from Sundowns, Pirates and other leading South African clubs to deliver when the national team takes on Guinea.