Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says the situation with Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau at Mamelodi Sundowns is something he doesn’t understand.
Mokoena and Mudau were dropped from the squad for their opening game of the 2024/25 league season as they beat SuperSport United 2-0 in the Tshwane Derby.
The decision continued for four games before Mudau made a cameo before the FIFA international break as they beat Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at FNB Stadium to maintain a 100% record in the league.
However, Mokoena has yet to make the squad in the league, neither the CAF Champions League preliminary round where they eased past Mbabane Swallows.
“I will not have so much comment on that, it’s a club matter and I am the coach of the national team,” he said.
“The only thing I can say is that I have to respect and accept the decision of the club, but I don’t have to agree [with it].
“I can’t understand why players like Khuliso and Teboho, who were key players in their club last season and in the national team – why suddenly, for one or another reason they are not on the bench anymore?”
Broos went on to state that he felt it was questionable of what happened at the club, given that a key player like Mokoena was not starting in a friendly fixture, in order to provide minutes on the pitch.
“When I heard that Teboho was on the bench in a friendly game last Tuesday when Sundowns played against SuperSport? Then someone has to explain what happened, it’s not a question that I will follow the same things that happened in their club,” he added.
“Teboho and Khuliso are key players and will stay key players but then again, if that situation goes on, then one day maybe, they will not be ready anymore to produce these good performances for Bafana Bafana.
“Then it will be time to take decisions, but for the moment, I don’t even think about it. Yeah [they have trained well], they are still Teboho and Khuliso from three months ago.
“It’s a club matter, even though it affects us as Bafana players. Again I need to respect and accept what the coach did, but on the other side, I don’t understand.”
South Africa host Congo Brazzaville on Friday evening at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (19h00).
