Doctor Khumalo and Steve Komphela have heaped praise on Bafana Bafana midfielder Yaya Sithole after his performances at the AFCON so far.
Sithole started all three of Bafana’s group games, and help steer the country into the last 16 after South Africa finished second in Group E behind Mali.
The two Bafana legends were pundits on SABCSport and shared their views after Bafana’s draw against Tunisia on Wednesday that secured their spot.
“I’m so glad that we have found a Sithole, he is a maturing player,” Khumalo said on SABC3.
“Now we have a very, very matured player. So now we have to secure him nicely, protect him and show him how to do things right in the national team.
“He is so unbelievable and I know a lot of people haven’t really seen what he can do. That’s our investment because the likes of [Teboho] Mokoena, they don’t dig deep when defending because he [Sithole] is there to give both attack and defence and also transition for that matter.”
Komphela concurred, addressing the work Sithole puts in that goes unnoticed.
“Call him the ‘invisible South African’,” Komphela said.
“The one South African in Bafana Bafana, when Bafana Bafana is in operation he is not visible but take him out, that’s when you will see.
“And it’s the truth, the ‘invisible South African’ you will never see him. He is not a hero but when you go in the dressing room he is the anchor.
“When a ship is by the harbour and held by the anchor, the wind can blow as hard as it can it [the ship] will not move but you don’t see the anchor. But take out the anchor and you will see the ship move. That’s Sithole for you.”
