Doctor Khumalo throws support behind Sipho Mbule ahead of AFCON

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Doctor Khumalo has voiced his support for Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule, backing him to play a key role for South Africa at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

Bafana Bafana will open their tournament campaign against Angola on Monday at the Stade de Marrakech, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm. Drawn in Group B, South Africa will also face Egypt and Zimbabwe as they look to take an early step towards what would be just the second AFCON title in the nation’s history.

The 2023 edition of the tournament, where Hugo Broos and his charges sent a strong message across the continent, has seen expectations rise significantly ahead of this campaign, including belief that the team can go all the way.

The Belgian coach has been involved in a long-term rebuilding process, and with results beginning to reflect the progress made, Broos finds himself on the brink of history as he nears the latter stages of his tenure with the national team.

Trust has been shown in younger players such as Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Mohau Nkota, along with previously sidelined figures like Sipho Mbule, whose return to the national setup has been impressive, as he has rediscovered the form and consistency many expected of him but which had previously been missing.

Khumalo, a standout figure during his own playing career, spoke highly of the Pirates midfielder and threw his support behind him, despite Mbule’s opportunity coming at the expense of Themba Zwane, who missed out after only making a return from injury.

“It was an unfortunate situation for Zwane because he was coming back from a very bad injury,” Khumalo said.

“He had only played a couple of games for Sundowns. But I think Hugo has found someone who is not a replacement but someone who can deliver on the day.

“I think Sipho, if he can be protected and guided, is a player who can provide what Themba used to give us.”

Khumalo added that Mbule already possesses immense quality and does not require much refinement, although he feels the player needs better support given the risks involved in the position he plays.

“The unfortunate thing is that it is difficult to advise such a character, because you cannot tell Mbule what to do,” Khumalo added.

“He is a natural talent, and you cannot coach him to do what he does on the field. Maybe you can advise or coach some tactical discipline, but when it comes to what he produces on the field, it is natural.

“We only have to do one thing: give him the freedom to do whatever he wants to do, but protect him.

“What I mean by protecting him is that we used to have Shoes (Moshoeu) as a playmaker, and I was wide, but we had Linda (Buthelezi) and Eric (Tinkler). 

“If there was a loss of possession, he did not have to track back, because we only needed him to give us the best of his ability. If you wanted him to track back as well, you would be killing his instincts in terms of going forward.”he concluded.