Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has questioned Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter over his decision not to play Njabulo Ngcobo after his move to the club.
The Belgian tactician started his reign as national team coach with four points from the first two FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana.
Ngcobo, who was a late call-up into the squad, featured in Bafana’s second match but came on as midfielder, which surprised many.
“It was because Mvala was injured. He a little bit of problems with the injury from the beginning of the week but I know he (Ngcobo) is a defender,” he told Thabiso Mosio on SAFMSportOn when asked about the DStv Premiership Defender of the Season.
“But about him it is a bit surprising to me that best defender of the country because last season he was the best defender that he doesn’t play in his team.
“He doesn’t play in his team and I ask myself why is he not playing in his team? This is really surprising and I have to make choices. My choice was (Siyanda) Xulu and (Rushine) De Reuck in central defense and did very well.”
Broos also explained why he chose to play Nyiko Mobbie out of position as left-back instead of Sibusiso Mabiliso.
“I saw Nyiko Mobbie play at the left side in Cosafa team. I saw him play three games on the left as a right footer and I liked him,” he explained.
“We selected him as a left-back because for the moment we don’t really have the left-back that I want. But after those two games, I found in Mobbie the left-back that I want, even when he is right-footed.
“We will go searching because it is always difficult for someone that is right-footed to play on the left side. But he played two very good games, certainly against Ghana he was very good.
“Nothing is permanent, you have to improve every game and we are looking for a solutions.
“Maybe we’ll find someone who’s left footed because offensively it’s a little problem for Mobbie since his left foot is not so strong. So we have to look further and maybe we’ll find a good left-back for the game against Ethiopia.
“It’s not because he didn’t play well, this is more tactically because if you are a left foot on the left side it’s always easier in the offensive moves.”
Broos also gave some insight as to why Mabiliso did not get a chance this time around.
“In 10 days you see a lot, you can observe things, you can observe training, you can observe the attitude, you can observe everything because you are 24 hours together,” he added.
“The you make choices and I made the choice to put Mobbie not Mabiliso.”
Broos has returned to Belgium to sort out some paper work but will be back in South Africa in around two weeks to prepare for the double-header against Ethiopia in October.
