Mlondi Mbanjwa: ‘What Broos told me after my first Bafana call-up’

AmaZulu FC midfielder Mlondi Mbanjwa has lifted the lid on his conversation with Hugo Broos after receiving his maiden national team call-up two months ago.

Mbanjwa travelled to Algeria with the team for FIFA Series international friendlies against Andorra and Algeria. He played the full match against Andorra but was an unused substitute against the North Africans.

With South Africa set to face Nigeria and Zimbabwe in FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June, Mbanjwa earned a place in the provisional 36-man squad that will be trimmed to 23 players by Broos.

He says Broos assured him there was a reason for his first call-up. The Belgian man encouraged him to maintain his playing style from AmaZulu and avoid trying to overdo it.

MLONDI MBANJWA REVEALS CONVERSATION WITH HUGO BROOS

“He emphasised on believing in myself. And that the fact that I’m there for a purpose and he didn’t call me just to call me but he saw something in me,” said Mbanjwa.

“He saw potential, he saw something that other people couldn’t see in me. He emphasised that I must do the right things.

“And he told me that I mustn’t try to impress too much but I must play my normal football, the football that he saw me playing at AmaZulu.”

Mbanjwa signed for Usuthu at the beginning of the season from Uthongathi FC and has become one of the key players for the KZN side.

He found adapting to the top flight easier than expected, having already experienced high intensity in the second tier.

‘MY FIRST SEASON IN PSL WASN’T THAT BAD’

“My first season in the PSL, I wouldn’t say it was hard. It was okay, not that bad,” he added.

“Coming from NFD where intensity is very high and coming to PSL where there is so much spaces and you are able to play.”

RELATED STORY: Broos announce Bafana preliminary squad for Nigeria & Zimbabwe clashes