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Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela believes that Khuliso Mudau has earned being mentioned among great right-backs in the country and even ranks higher in the coach’s opinion.
Mudau’s performances for Sundowns and Bafana Bafana in recent years have put the spotlight on just how good he is in comparison with some of the best names not only in South Africa but also in the world.
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He’s helped Sundowns win five league titles, two domestic cups and two African titles inclusive of the CAF Champions League and the African Football League since arriving in the 2020/21 season.
He’s also shone bright in national colours as an integral part of Bafana’s rise on the international stage where they’ve qualified for two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in the last five years. He’s also been part of the group that qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup where they made history getting out of the group for the very first time after a 16-year absence.
Komphela told iDiski Times senior writer Matshelane Mamabolo in edition 262 of the newspaper that ‘Sailor’ is even on the same level and better than some South African legends.
“I look at Sailor, and I see him on par if not better than the likes of Ewie [Kambule] and Sizwe [Motaung],” Komphela told iDiski Times.
“You think Pa Gaxa, Jimmy Tau and Lucky Lekgwathi as some of the best exponents of the position we’ve had in this country yet, in my opinion and with utmost respect to these players, Sailor is the best right-back South Africa has had.”
Meanwhile, the World Cup provided a platform for players to be seen by international scouts with some of Mudau’s national teammates making moves.
Komphela added that it’s not such a big issue for Mudau to make an international transfer as the environment at his club is nurturing and rewarding.
“Sundowns is a highly competitive environment and highly rewarding as well, so a Sundowns player is not going to be easily tempted to move to change the environment for economic reasons,” added the coach.
“Their economic situation is competent, so for him to move would depend on the issue of luck; the opportunity of the player transfer is about the opportunity to go and the club’s willingness to let go of such a player.
“In Sailor’s case, when coach Rulani [Mokwena] left, Sailor could have gone, but such opportunities are dependent also on who handles your affairs.
“You need a George Mendes-type agent who can open massive opportunities for you as a player, but as I said, if you are a Sundowns player, the move is not something you are necessarily chasing, given the great environment they are in.”
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