Mamelodi Sundowns’ Nedbank Cup hero Thapelo Morena says Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos needs to be trusted over his team selections.
Morena enjoyed an incredible season with Masadawana and contributed massively to their domestic clean sweep despite the emergence of Khuliso Mudau in his right-back position.
Mudau has now seemingly cemented his spot in the national team after being named in the final 23-man squad that is set to face Morocco in next month’s opening 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Featuring in a variety of positions including right-wing, midfield and up-front, Morena who scored the winner deep into extra-time in the 2-1 triumph over Marumo Gallants on Saturday says he is just looking to put in the work in order to get back into the national team fold.
“I think it’s… for me, it’s what the coaches believe in and we have to trust the coach in every selection he does,” Morena said after the Nedbank Cup triumph. “As a player, I just need to work harder to get back again.”
“As a footballer, you won’t say you have a specific position, for me, every chance that I get in the field I just do my best, I’m grateful that I help the team and make sure I get the opportunities, doing well and getting the goal.”
On his winner, which came from the bench when he was introduced after the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes he admitted that Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo’s red card in the 110th minute played a crucial role in their dramatic triumph with virtually the last kick of the ball.
“Watching the game from the outside is different from inside and the most important thing is seeing the space. Seeing the space and them getting a red card was a bonus for us,” he added.
“Knowing they are a man down, we knew we could strangle them more, when I came in as a winger I was trying to get behind the defence with [Khuliso] Mudau went back to right-back but didn’t stop going forward which made more space for me going forward.”
