Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is delighted with the impact Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams had in the 2-0 win over Lesotho on Friday in Group C's 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier.
The Orlando Pirates sensation had a good game with a goal to his name which saw him get the Man-of-the-Match Award. His teammate Jayden Adams,also impressed for the national team and ended up getting the second strike in front of the fully-packed Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
The Belgian has explained the logic behind starting the duo against the Crocodiles and discussed their influence and chances of becoming regulars.
“You know I can tell nobody they are a regular [in] Bafana Bafana, we are 23, that’s the first thing; secondly I said also before, as a coach you have to see when is the right moment to bring in a player [into the starting team],” he stated.
Mofokeng and Adams had a nice game
“I think this game was the right moment for Rele, he played a very good game and this is what we need, when you put a young guy in the team, as a coach, you have to always think they can succeed,” he continued.
“If he doesn’t, can you imagine he played a bad game, then everyone would say ‘ya, ya, ya maybe it’s too soon, maybe he’s not so good, blah, blah, blah’. So you have to help the player with that.
“I think I did that with Rele and I did that today with Jayden too, for me, Jayden also played a very good game, but this was also an opponent to do that. You can’t do that against Nigeria, or maybe for the first time, in Benin because those are different games.”
Mokoena to be rested against Benin?
“So I have to watch and see when is the right moment and then sometimes they don’t succeed then either – but today you see Rele, he had the confidence from my side and he confirmed it, so I’m very happy with that,” the experienced Belgian added.
On Tuesday, Bafana Bafana play Benin in Ivory Coast, a game Broos' team will be hoping to get another maximum points to retain their top position in the pool. However, the former Cameroon coach has revealed why he might not play Teboho Mokoena.
“Certain moments when the result is there you need to take into account. On Tuesday again we have a difficult game, we will try to give some players a little bit of rest like Teboho, he played already all the games for Sundowns this season.
“So, it’s bit real that’s why we haven’t changed him also the other players. So, we will give him a little bit rest and to be ready for next Tuesday,” Broos concluded.
