Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has credited Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns for helping boost the level of the national team.
Bafana Bafana secured back-to-back 2-0 wins against Lesotho and Benin to boost their 2026 World Cup qualification chances and their squad was full of Sundowns players like it has been in recent years.
The Bafana Bafana starting XI against Lesotho had four Sundowns players, with three being introduced from the bench, while against Benin, the PSL champions also had four with two coming on as substitutes.
Khanye delighted by Pirates stars in Bafana
Meanwhile, Pirates had two starting last Friday and one coming from the bench, while on Tuesday, three were in the starting XI and Khanye says it is down to the two clubs that Hugo Broos’ men, who have gone 18 games without defeat, are shining.
“When Hugo Broos came to South Africa, he was not playing this way. His philosophy was not this way,” Khanye said on iDiski TV.
“He has learnt. Thanks to Orlando Pirates they have helped him bringing [Nkosinathi] Sibisi. Taking the best out of Sibisi. Also, the boy [Relebohile] Mofokeng, [Thalente] Mbatha, Patrick [Maswanganyi].
Where are Hugo Broos’ men placed in Group C?
“Thanks to Sundowns as well. Both Pirates and Sundowns I think they’ve helped the coach to achieve his goal. Both teams have helped the coach in the understanding of the players.”
Broos men lead their World Cup qualification group with 13 points from six matches, five ahead of both Benin and Rwanda, who both have eight, while Nigeria have seven points, Lesotho six and Zimbabwe on four with four matches remaining.
Bafana Bafana will be hoping to maintain top spot to seal a direct ticket to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, when they hosted the tournament.
