Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says he left out Mamelodi Sundowns right-back Khuliso Mudau because his performances have not been good enough of late, while Nyiko Mobbie has “never disappointed” him.
Broos trimmed down his squad from 30 to the final 23 that will face Mozambique and Angola in two friendly matches on 17 and 20 November in Mbombela.
Mudau has arguably been the best right-back in the last two seasons for Sundowns, deservedly earning his first Bafana call up in March and making his debut against Guinea in Belgium during that FIFA break.
But Broos says recent performances of him have not been good enough, which has seen Thapelo Morena regain his spot at Sundowns.
“I saw the games of Sundowns and I found that he was not really on the level that he was before,” said Broos during the squad announcement with the SABC Sport.
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“He was struggling a little bit, and that is my opinion.’
With Mudau out of form, Broos has gone with Sydney Mobbie and Morena.
“Then you have Nyiko Mobbie, you have Morena, you have Thabiso Monyane and him. So those are four good right-backs and then you have to choose,” added Broos.
“The reason why Khuliso is not there is the fact that his performance is a little bit less than what I know.”
Broos has kept faith on Mobbie, who has been loaned away by Sundowns a couple of times because Mudau and Morena are ahead of him in the pecking order at the club.
Despite that, Broos says Mobbie has been a constant figure in the Belgian’s squads since he was appointed on a five-year deal in May last year.
“Mobbie never disappointed me, never,” said Broos.
“Except against France [where Bafana were crushed 5-0 in March] and this was not only his fault. He was always in between three players because Kylian Mbappe is like two players and it was very, very difficult for him in this game.
“After the game people were saying ‘this Mobbie doesn’t have the talent to play for Bafana Bafana’. Mobbie never disappointed me and that is why he’s always with us.”
