Keletso Makgalwa must be asking himself what more he needs to do to earn a Bafana Bafana call-up from coach Hugo Broos.
The Sekhukhune United winger was among a couple of in-form players in the Premier Soccer League who were unlucky not to make Broos's 23-man squad to face Lesotho and Nigeria in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in September.
In the first match, Lesotho will host Bafana in the Free State on September 5 before South Africa welcomes the Super Eagles on September 9.
Six points may be enough to take Bafana close to qualifying for the global showpiece for the first time since 2010 — the year South Africa hosted the event.
Makgalwa's non-inclusion in the team Broos announced in Johannesburg on Thursday was not entirely surprising as the pint-sized player, who was a finalist for PSL's Football of the Year award last season, was not in Broos's preliminary squad of 48.
Players who were in that preliminary squad including Stellenbosch's Devin Titus, Fawaaz Basadien from Mamelodi Sundowns, Vuyo Letlapa of Sekhukhune and Puso Dithejane of TS Galaxy can also count themselves unlucky.
The new faces in Broos's squad include Kaizer Chiefs' Mduduzi Shabalala, Zuko Mdunyelwa (Sundowns), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq FC, Saudi Arabia), Ime Okon (Hannover 96, Germany) and Kamogelo Sebelebele (Pirates).
If you look at the omission of Makgalwa in particular you wonder what criteria Broos is using if he, for instance, selects Shabalala of Chiefs who is yet to score or provide an assist in four league matches this season.
Makgalwa has provided four assists in six matches he's played in all competitions this season. Three of Makgalwa's assists came in one league match against PSL rookies Orbit College, a match the table-topping Sekhukhune won 3-0.
But there is justification for Broos in bringing in players like Mbokazi, Nkota, Okon and Sebelebele as some of his regulars that include Themba Zwane, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Grant Kekana, Khuliso Mudau, Elias Mokwana, Jayden Adams and Thapelo Morena will miss these qualifiers for different reasons.
Broos was particularly pleased to get a second chance to work with Mbokazi after seeing him in friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique in June.
The Bafana coach believes the Pirates defender is ready for international football at a senior level, though he is against rushing the 19-year-old to Europe before he finishes his first full season in the PSL.
“From the beginning we saw a very mature attitude,” Broos said of Mbokazi, who has led Pirates in recent matches in the absence of the injured Sibisi.
“He's confident, he's strong, he's got a good technique, and he plays without fear. This is special for a young player and a good defender and a very young one. I never doubted once when I made a decision on him.
I hope Fifa follows the rules and they resist the pressure that Nigeria is trying to put now. On our side we're focused on what we have to do on the pitch, rather than outside it
— Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana coach
“He's really, really good and I think it's long time since South Africa has had such a player. In the four years I've been here I never saw a defender like this and a young one. I'm very happy with him.”
Broos added that Mbokazi should gain more experience locally and in the Caf Champions League this season before he plays in Europe.
“It's the same thing I said about Relebohile Mofokeng last year. Mbokazi too must stay here for another year. It will be good for him to stay. But if he goes on like this, this is the guy that has to go to Europe with the skills he has, with the quality he has.
“He's a nice guy and is very humble and this is the guy who must go to Europe next year.”
In the absence of central defenders like Kekana and Sibisi, Mbokazi may find himself in a new look Bafana defence that may only have goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and left back Aubrey Modiba as regulars.
Mbokazi may be paired with another young player in Okon, who joined Germany's Hannover 96 from the now defunct SuperSport United, Siyabonga Ngezana or Samukelo Kabini (Molde FK, Norway), who impressed in Bafana friendlies in June.
At right back Broos will have to select between Nyiko Mobbie of Sekhukhune and Mdunyelwa, the player who filled Mudau's position at Sundowns.
Broos told reporters on Thursday that he helped broke a deal that saw Mudau return to training with Sundowns this week after a contractual dispute.
“I really hope that as soon as possible the problem is solved because Khuliso is the best right back in the country, one of the best in Africa,” said the Bafana coach.
There were no surprises that Broos introduced in the middle of the park as he kept Thalente Mbatha, Luke le Roux, Teboho Mokoena and Bathusi Aubaas in his team.
Having added Sebelebele among his attacking wingers, there will be plenty of options for Broos as Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, Nkota, Shabalala and Patrick Maswanganyi will all be fighting to earn a place to support either Iqraam Rayners or Lyle Foster in attack.
Bafana top their group on 13 points as Fifa is yet to make a decision on whether south Africa faulted when they played Mokoena, who had accumulated two yellow cards and was supposed to be suspended, in their 2-0 win over Lesotho in March in Polokwane.
Nigeria, who are fourth and trail Bafana by six points, have been making all the noise about why the governing body has not punished South Africa by deducting the three points they won against Lesotho.
Broos said he was confident Bafana will qualify whether the Lesotho points are taken or not. “I hope Fifa follows the rules. If there will be a moment that we lose the three points, OK, then we lose the three points.
“We can't do anything about that decision, but I've said that rules must be followed. The rule says if there's no complaint, there's nothing. This has nothing to do with Nigeria, a team that is in fourth position. I hope Fifa follows the rules and they resist the pressure that Nigeria is trying to put now. On our side we're focused on what we have to do on the pitch, rather than outside it.”
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