Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos named his final squad to face Liberia in a crucial back-to-back AFCON qualifier.
Bafana welcome the Lone Stars at the Orlando Stadium on Friday in a must-win tie before visiting the West Africans four days later in Monrovia.
There was no place in the 23-member squad for Mamelodi Sundowns right-back Khuliso Mudau.
The former Black Leopards defender has been sensational for the defending South African champions as they march to their sixth successive title.
MORE THAN THAPELO MORENA
In fact, Rulani Mokwena has used him at right back more than any other player, including Thapelo Morena, who got the nod from Broos.
The 27-year-old Mudau has played 28 games this season, with 20 of those in the DStv Premiership, five in the CAF Champions League and three in the MTN8.
He has provided one assist and one goal, which came in the CAF Champions League.
Interestingly, Mobbie has been a Sundowns player since July 2019 but has never kicked a ball in a competitive match for the Brazilians.
He has spent the last couple of years on loan spells at Stellenbosch FC, Chippa United and Sekhukhune United, where he is in his second season.
At Babina Noko this season, Mobbie has played 22 games, with 20 in the DStv Premiership and two in the Nedbank Cup. He has one assist.
The chances of him returning to Sundowns are slim, with the club preferring Mudau and Morena, while Nicholus Lukhubeni is also on loan at Swallows.
Therefore, Broos’ constant overlooking of Mobbie has repeatedly drawn daggers.
WHY MOBBIE OVER MUDAU
A Bafana Bafana regular, who’s also part of the squad set to face Liberia, has explained the coach’s decision. He gave three reasons why the coach prefers Mobbie.
“Both of them are solid defensively, but Mobbie has the edge over Mudau in attack. He’s a better crosser of the ball than Mudau. That’s the first difference between them.
“You could argue that Mudau is better in one-on-one situations, but the bottom line is that they’re both excellent defensively.
“The second thing I observed was after the Morocco game we lost 2-1. The coach was furious with Mudau for the goal we conceded.
“He was told not to overlap, but he did later in the game, and we conceded a late goal because he was out of position.
“We could have come back home with a point, but we conceded in the 87th minute, and Mudau was not at the back when that goal was scored.
“When I listen to the coach explain that Mobbie and Morena are better defensively, I think he still has the Morocco mistake in mind.
HUGO BROOS WANTS INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWED
“Thirdly. Remember, Hugo Broos is strict and needs instructions followed to the tee. Mobbie takes instructions very well. He’ll do exactly what the coach tells him,” explained the player who requested anonymity.
He added that including Morena could signal that Broos may opt to play offensively against the Lone Stars at some point.
When explaining his decision, the Belgian mentor reiterated that Mobbie had never disappointed him.
“If you see the selection and you put Mudau on right-back, you have to choose,” he told journalists.
“For me, Mobbie never disappointed me, never. And with Morena, we have a player who can also play right-back but who can play also a little bit higher. So we have something more with Morena.
“Mudau is very strong physically, I know it, but maybe we need a little bit more than that, and I think that maybe Morena is a little bit stronger defensively than Mudau, but he’s maybe a little bit less [strong] offensively than Mudau. So it’s a choice. It’s a choice that I made.”
WHAT BRANDON TRUTER SAID
Sekhukhune United coach Brandon Truter recently told SABC Sport that he previously questioned Mobbie’s inclusion in the national team. However, having worked with him closely, he now concurs with Broos.
“He is very adaptable to tactical changes. He is very intelligent as well, his game awareness is second to none, and I would say he is one of my best players when it comes to those things. Now I understand why the national team coach selects him,” said Truter.
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