Bafana Bafana coach has shed light on the tactical reasons for overlooking the Bucs forward
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has seemed to suggest that Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa is similar to some of the forwards at his disposal and that is why he does not call him.
Broos has kept snubbing Mabasa despite the striker’s high scoring rate, having been the PSL’s top scorer last season with 16 goals, 19 across all competitions, with team-mate Evidence Makgopa, newly-signed Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Iqraam Rayners and Burnley’s Lyle Foster preferred ahead of him.
Is it the end for Mabasa’s Bafana career?
According to Broos, it is down to tactics as he would not like to have many like-for-like strikers which would make it difficult if he wants to change the approach during the game.
“If I put in Mabasa, whom do I leave at home? Iqraam did very well against Algeria and Zimbabwe, Lyle is playing very good in the Premier League,” Broos told the media on Monday.
“I have to see that there is balance in my team and that if there is something happening during a game, I can change something. Not by putting in the same type of player, sometimes to put another player.
Pirates striker far from convincing Broos
“Mabasa is not a different type of player than Lyle and Iqraam. For the moment it may be difficult to accept for the player and the club but I don’t change.”
Mabasa will continue watching Bafana Bafana games on TV with this month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers set to see Rayners and Foster compete for a starting place upfront.
Rayners started the two World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe in June, with Foster coming off the bench, while Makgopa was the man preferred by Broos during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
