Thulani Hlatshwayo: ‘I haven’t retired from Bafana’

Former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo has insisted that he hasn’t hung up his international football boots.

The 32-year-old defender hasn’t donned the national team jersey since Hugo Broos took over as the head coach of South Africa in 2021.

At the outset of his spell at Bafana, Broos expressly stated that he was going to form a new young team.

Hlatshwayo and other players that were over the age of 30 fell victim to that with the former Cameroon coach standing firm on his decision.

However, in September this year, Broos surprisingly recalled the 33-year-old Themba Zwane to the squad for the two international friendlies against Sierra Leone and Botswana. 

Broos had refused to call up the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder before, saying he is too old for his selection.

In explaining this turnaround, the 70-year-old coach said, “only fools don’t change their minds”. This perhaps granted some hope to players like Hlatshwayo who are at the same age with Zwane.

Now, Hlatshwayo, who currently plies his trade at SuperSport United, also says he still pictures himself in the Bafana shirt.

HLATSHWAYO STILL PICTURES HIMSELF IN THE BAFANA SHIRT

“In terms of me going back to the national team, I have to do well for SuperSport and probably I will catch his eye,” Hlatshwayo told the media during the SuperSport’s camp in Durban.

“I haven’t retired [from international football] but my main focus, for now, is at SuperSport United.”

Hlatshwayo played for all South Africa junior national teams before he broke into the senior team in 2013 during Gordon Igesund’s tenure.

The Soweto-born centre-back has taken part in two Africa Cup of Nations in 2015 in Equitorial Guinea and 2019 in Egypt.

He has, thus far, made 54 appearances and scored four goals for Bafana.

Meanwhile, he has played 13 games and scored one goal in all competitions for Matsatsantsa this season.

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