Orlando Pirates legend Jerry Sikhosana has revealed the overseas-based player he believes Hugo Broos must call up to Bafana Bafana.
“Legs of Thunder” was speaking after AFCON, reflecting on Bafana Bafana’s performances in the tournament, which he described as a “learning curve” for the nation.
He added that it was also preparation for a bigger tournament — the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in June in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
Sikhosana says Broos should perhaps start considering Olwethu Makhanya, who plays for Philadelphia Union in the USA’s MLS.
He raved about the Durban-born defender, saying he saw Makhanya contain Lionel Messi in a league match.
Moreover, with Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Puso Dithejane having moved to Chicago Fire in the same league as Makhanya and Bongokuhle Hlongwane of Minnesota United, Sikhosana believes Broos should embrace the league — even though he does not like it — and give opportunities to these youngsters.
“We’ve got a lot of these youngsters that are playing in the USA, and this is the country where the coach was not happy to say Mbokazi doesn’t deserve to go to and play there, but most of the players are there,” Sikhosana told iDiski Times.
“So, I think on that element, he needs to take pride, maybe something that he’s not happy with, in terms of the USA, because these are the players that are going to be needed.
“So, use them, there is an influx of players that, personally, I didn’t know about them, but I think there is like [a defender] if I’m not mistaken, a defender where I had the opportunity [to watch] when you watch all these games in the USA. He was man-marking Messi, he’s a South African, [Olwethu] Makhanya.
“So, you can understand when there is a good South African doing a good job, but unfortunately, he’s in a country the coach doesn’t like. That’s the only advice I can give [to Broos] to say, take a look at these boys, because we really need to prepare.
“As much as now people are criticising him, I don’t feel or believe we really need to do that because we still need the man to take us to the World Cup.”
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