Despite the midfielder from Kaizer Chiefs, Lebohang Maboe, arriving at the national team with a bruise after missing a penalty in the Betway Premier League match that ended 0-0 on Sunday, he will remain part of the 'Bafana Bafana' squad.
Despite the midfielder from Kaizer Chiefs, Lebohang Maboe, arriving at the national team with a bruise after missing a penalty in the Betway Premier League match that ended 0-0 on Sunday, he will remain part of the 'Bafana Bafana' squad.
The head coach of the 'Bafana Bafana' national team, Pitsos Mosimane, confirmed that Lebohang Maboe will stay with the team, even though he sustained an ankle injury during Sunday's match against Golden Arrows.
Maboe reported for duty with the national team on Monday but was sent for examination following complaints of sharp pain in his ankle. Speaking before the 'Bafana' first training session at the AW Muller University stadium in Johannesburg, Mosimane stated that the medical team recommended caution regarding the midfielder.
Mosimane said: 'He has a minor ankle injury; it looks like no one even touched him. It is sensitive; the doctor informed me that we must be careful with him and give him a chance.'
This injury came at an unfortunate time for Maboe, who was recovering with 'Bafana' after an impressive performance for 'Chiefs'. Instead of immediately sending him back to the club, Mosimane decided to keep the midfielder in the camp while medical staff assess the extent of the problem.
The 'Bafana' coach also expressed hope that Maboe can recover in time to participate in the three matches of the international window scheduled for South Africa. 'Bafana' will play Guinea at Orlando Stadium on September 26 as part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and then travel to Egypt to face Eritrea on September 30. Following this, they will play a friendly match against Egypt on October 4.
Mosimane acknowledged the disappointment Maboe might feel, especially after hard work to earn his spot in the squad. He noted: 'We have a three-week camp. He took tests, and the results will show how far along he is, and I think he worked hard to get into 'Bafana'. He must be disappointed by the injury, and no one hit him. Sometimes that happens in football; let's hope Lebo recovers and tries.'
For now, Maboe remains with the national team while 'Bafana' medical staff assesses his condition. The examination will determine the scope of the injury and the possibility of the 'Chiefs' midfielder participating in any of the three matches in Mosimane's first international window since returning as 'Bafana' coach.
The new head coach of the Bafana Bafana national team, Pitsso Mosimane, stated that he has strong reasons for including veteran Themba Zwane in the national team's first squad, and also outlined the main criteria of his selection process.
Zwane is among the most experienced players in Mosimane's squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Guinea at Orlando Stadium and against Eritrea at Al-Salam Stadium on September 30. Additionally, a friendly match against Egypt is scheduled for October at Cairo International Stadium.
His inclusion drew close attention, given that the 2026 World Cup was expected to be his last tournament before approaching retirement age at 37, as well as the fact that he is not currently a regular starter for Mamelodi Sundowns.
Although Zwane's selection aligns with Mosimane's strategy of maintaining continuity and gradually integrating young players so they can learn from more experienced teammates, the coach did not disclose the details behind Zwane's selection, who remains one of the best talents to emerge in the PSL.
Speaking at Safa House on Thursday, Mosimane responded to the question of whether he considers form, quality, experience, and the absence of injured players. He confirmed that he considers all these aspects.
Mosimane emphasized that decisions are not made arbitrarily: 'I am not selecting Themba Zwane, who is 37 years old, just because I want to select him or because I worked with him at Sundowns. I have my own reasons for selecting Themba Zwane.'
Mosimane supported the idea of keeping Zwane as an integral part of the team in the foreseeable future, stating that Zwane, goalkeeper Sipho Tshabalala, and current captain Ronwen Williams will serve as three key leaders during his time with the team.
Zwane, like other players, will be grateful for the opportunity, given that coaches have consistently shown belief in his abilities throughout his career, and he commits to being ready to support the team whenever called upon.
It is reported that the Safa team is close to signing Arthur Zwein as Pitso Mosimane's second assistant in the 'Bafana Bafana' national team.
Mosimane took over the team leadership at the beginning of this month, replacing Hugo Bruus. He quickly brought on board trusted staff members Musi Matlaba and Kabelo Rangoa, who will continue to share their experience as analyst and physical fitness coach, respectively.
The former 'Mamelodi Sundowns' coach further strengthened his technical team by appointing Moren Ramoreboli as his first assistant after he left the position of head coach of the Botswana national team.
News emerging this week indicates that Zwein is ready to join Mosimane's team on a part-time basis. According to available information, he will continue to lead the 'AmaZulu' team while fulfilling the duties of Mosimane's second assistant. Furthermore, he will oversee the work of the U23 youth team, helping integrate young players into the senior squad.
Zwein has experience working with youth. His impressive period at 'AmaZulu' was a result of nurturing young talents and helping them adapt to the high demands of professional football.
He began his coaching career in the youth structures of 'Kaizer Chiefs', where he played an important role in promoting young players who subsequently moved to Europe or became full members of the senior team.
If Zwein takes this position, he returns to the 'Bafana' squad, as he previously worked as an assistant to the current technical director Molefe Ntseki.
Much has changed since then—after Bruus qualified the team for two continental tournaments in a row and for the World Cup, where they historically reached the 32nd round. Therefore, Mosimane is under pressure to maintain this momentum.
Mosimane will begin his term with the CAF Confederation Cup qualifier against Guinea at Orlando Stadium on September 30, and four days later he will meet Eritrea at the neutral Al-Salam stadium in Cairo. Then 'Bafana' will conclude the international window with a friendly match against Egypt at the Cairo International Stadium on October 4.
Mbokezeli Mbokazi's earlier return to training with Chicago Fire could provide timely support for South Africa national team coach Pitso Mosimane as he works on building the new squad.
Although Mbokazi was initially excluded from Mosimane's preliminary list of 35 players due to a thigh injury that sidelined him, his resumption of training with the team has increased the likelihood that Mosimane can utilize the high-caliber defender during the international break in November, provided his recovery proceeds without complications.
The 20-year-old central defender sustained the injury shortly after returning from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he participated in all four matches for the national team as they reached the playoffs. Initially, Chicago management suggested that Mbokazi might miss the rest of the MLS season, and coach Greg Berhalter described the injury as a serious setback.
However, Berhalter later stated that the initial prognosis was premature because Mbokazi was showing better progress than expected. This progress led to the defender returning to the main team's training, which was an additional boost for the national team after his absence seemed prolonged.
For Mosimane, Mbokazi's return is particularly significant as he begins his third term as national team head coach. The new coach has had little time to adapt to this role since replacing Hugo Broos, while South Africa prepares for its first AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea at the end of this month.
Mbokazi's absence has already forced Mosimane to look for alternative options in central defense for the September matches, given that the young player and Nkosinat Sibisi are also unavailable for World Cup selection.
The defender's importance to the national team was highlighted by his performances at the World Cup, where he became one of the team's breakthrough players despite his age. His return gives Mosimane another potential option when trying to form a preferred defensive pairing and maintain the progress made by the team under Broos.
Nevertheless, there are no indications that Mbokazi will be rushed into international football. The priority remains the defender completing his rehabilitation, regaining full match fitness, and cementing his place in the Chicago Fire team before being considered for the national team.
Thus, the November international window could be an important benchmark. If Mbokazi is playing in competitions by then, Mosimane can bring one of the World Cup discoveries back into his squad. For now, the defender's return to training is a positive first step that could ultimately become a valuable reinforcement for Mosimane and the national team.
