Since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, Sipho Mbule has not done enough to earn a recall to the national team, and has been left out of the preliminary squad for upcoming friendlies against Panama.
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Hugo Broos named his preliminary Bafana Bafana squad for upcoming friendlies against Panama on Monday, and one conspicuous absentee was Sipho Mbule – the Master Chef.
Mbule’s omission should come as no surprise. The Orlando Pirates attacking midfielder has struggled for regular game time at club level and has rarely shown the form that convinced Broos to select him for the Africa Cup of Nations that kicked off in December last year.
Prior to that tournament, the soon-to-be 28-year-old was ever-present for Ezikamagebhula, and fans were convinced that the Master Chef was starting to cook. His performances for the national team during the back end of the World Cup qualifiers were also encouraging.
However, Mbule has not convinced club coach Abdeslam Ouaddou that he deserves regular minutes. Ouaddou has been experimental with the number 10 position at Pirates, and Relebohile Mofokeng and Patrick Maswanganyi have both been given opportunities to shine – and they have impressed.
Both Mofokeng and Maswanganyi have been added to the preliminary group, as has Themba Zwane, the man who owned the jersey before he was forced to spend time on the sidelines due to injury.
While Zwane hasn’t featured regularly, he is a player Broos knows very well, and his return to the fold could indicate that the Belgian is ready to end his Mbule experiment.
That said, Mbule still has time between now and the end of the season to convince Broos that he remains the man to fill Zwane’s shoes at the Fifa World Cup in North America. To do that, he will have to outperform Mofokeng and Maswanganyi at Pirates and earn the trust of Ouaddou.
Ultimately, Mbule’s fate now rests largely in his own hands. Talent has never been the question – consistency and opportunity have. If the Master Chef is to return to the Bafana kitchen, he will need to force the door open with performances that are simply impossible to ignore. Until then, Broos appears content to look elsewhere, and Mbule risks watching from the sidelines as others stake a claim to the position that was once his.
Bafana Bafana squad v Panama
Goalkeepers: Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates), Ricardo Goss (Siwelele), Darren Johnson (AmaZulu), Renaldo Leaner (Sekhukhune United), Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Defenders: Samukelo Kabini (Molde, Norway), Vuyo Letlapa (Sekhukhune United), Thabang Matuludi (Polokwane City), Olwethu Makhanya (Philadelphia Union, USA), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire, USA), Aubrey Modiba, Thapelo Morena, Khuliso Mudau, Khulumani Ndamane (all Mamelodi Sundowns), Ime Okon (Hannover 96, Germany), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates), Tylon Smith (Queens Park Rangers, England), Deano van Rooyen (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Jayden Adams (Stellenbosch), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota FC, USA), Luke le Roux (Portsmouth, England), Ndamulelo Maphangule (Polokwane City), Thalenthe Mbatha (Orlando Pirates), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mthetheleli Mthinyane (Stellenbosch), Sphephelo Sithole (Tondela, Portugal)
Forwards: Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Evidence Makgopa (Orlando Pirates), Thapelo Maseko (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Patrick Maswanaganyi, Yanela Mbuthuma, Relebohile Mofokeng, Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates), Mohau Nkota (Al Ettifaq, Saudi Arabia), Iqraam Rayners (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
IOL Sport