Mothiba the ‘type of striker we don't have’, says Broos as he names Bafana squad
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos on Wednesday announced a squad for next month's friendlies that was heavy in strikers, the coach apparently keen to run the rule over some talented forwards as he seeks to resolve Bafana Bafana's notorious scoring problems.
Big, 27-year-old France-based centre-forward Lebo Mothiba - who made a bright start to his Bafana career from 2018, with four goals in 14 games, but has not featured yet under Broos - is likely to make his return in a national team jersey having made the 23-player squad.
South Africa meet Namibia on September 9 (3pm) and Democratic Republic of Congo on September 12 (5pm) in matches at Orlando Stadium that will serve as preparation for the start of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in November and African Cup of Nations finals in Ivory Coast from January 13.
Broos can have a look at a potentially potent strike partnership of Strasbourg striker Mothiba and Burnley's Lyle Foster in the matches.
The 23 men squad for our two friendly matches in September 2023 as we continue preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Ivory Coast from 13 January-11 February 2024.
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) August 30, 2023
.@BafanaBafana will play 🇳🇦 on 9 September 2023 and 🇨🇩 on 12 September 2023.
Both matches at… pic.twitter.com/j7TW9xkPdc
"Lebo Mothiba was not playing for his club. And then last season he played a few games and at the start of this season he's played all their games and scored," the coach said.
"And he's the type of striker we don't have. He's big, he's powerful."
Yet, even with European-based Mothiba, who has battled injuries for the past two years, and Foster in the squad, Broos also has local-based options to examine.
Zakhele Lepasa, who scored crucial goals for Bafana in Nations Cup qualifiers this year, has hit rampant form on his return from loan at SuperSport United to Orlando Pirates, with six goals in nine games for the Buccaneers.
Percy Tau remains Bafana's key player in attack and hit form for Egyptian Al Ahly last season.
Monnapule Saleng is a key attacker and goal provider at Pirates.
Bafana squad
Goalkeepers: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu),Ricardo Goss (SuperSport United)
Defenders: Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Thabiso Monyane (Orlando Pirates), Nkosinathi Sibisi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Grant Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Maphosa Modiba (Mamelodi Sundowns), Mothobi Mvala (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyanda Xulu (SuperSport United), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Luke le Roux (Varbergs Bois, Sweden), Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Grant Margeman (SuperSport United), Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Forwards: Mihlali Mayambela (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kobamelo Kodisang (Moreirense, Portugal), Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt), Zakhele Lepasa (Orlando Pirates), Lyle Foster (Burnley, England), Lebo Mothiba (RC Strasbourg, France), Monnapule Saleng (Orlando Pirates)