Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos was pleased with Thalente Mbatha after the Orlando Pirates midfielder scored on his senior international debut.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months after moving from a backup role at SuperSport United to starring for Orlando Pirates and now making his first appearance in South African colours.
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He netted a 95th-minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Uganda at Orlando Stadium on Friday night to salvage a vital point in their Group K opener of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and impressed alongside fellow substitute Relebohile Mofokeng.
“I wanted to see from everybody what I wanted to see when we went down 2-1 and the way he [Mbatha] came in [the game], was very good, he was very good,” Broos said.
“So I think also for those players [new inclusions] we discussed it before the game, what will we do, do we go for players who’s played competitive games, or do we go on with players who know the automatism in the team and so on.
“It was a choice to make, but the moment we had to do something [chase the game] we put those players on who are maybe a bit fresher and sharper, and Thalente was one of those players today.”
With Bafana missing out on their original six point target for their two games in the current FIFA international window, Broos conceded the pressure is rising for a result in Juba when they take on South Sudan next Tuesday.
“The points, it’s a deception hey, I’m disappointed we only have a point – but we have a point, that is true and now it’s more [imperative] that we win next Tuesday in South Sudan, that is for sure,” he stated about missing out on the win.
