MC Alger head coach Rulani Mokwena has given a candid assessment on why Orlando Pirates midfielder Kabelo Dlamini could be an option for Bafana Bafana.
The left-footed star has had a slow start to the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season under the leadership of head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Dlamini has struggled to break into the Pirates starting line-up after featuring in seven appearances and playing all matches as a second-half substitute. In his handful of games this season, Dlamini has chipped in with two assists.
The former Bloemfontein Celtic attacker has faced stiff competition from players such as Sipho Mbule, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Relebohile Mofokeng in the number 10 role at Pirates.
Meanwhile, Dlamini has constantly proven his qualities to dictate the tempo of the match and find passes in between the lines. Rulani Mokwena, who is his former coach at Pirates, has thrown Dlamini’s name as an option to play at 10 for Bafana.
WHAT MOKWENA SAID ABOUT KABELO DLAMINI
The highly-rated mentor made the remarks about Dlamini while addressing the question of whether South Africa has a crisis in the absence of Themba Zwane.
Mokwena told SAFJA Journalists on Wednesday that Dlamini has the qualities that could benefit Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana.
“There are a lot of players that can play the 10 role, but it also depends on the type of players you put them around,” Mokwena said. “Kabelo Dlamini is an incredible number 10 for me as an option [for Bafana], and he does very well with a striker like Tshegofatso Mabasa, who he can find with a pass in and around the box.
“I think there’s a goal that Pirates scored against [St-Eloi] Lupopo, and if you look at Kabelo Dlamini’s assist, I think Oswin Appollis scored the goal, and that is an action of a number 10 and qualities that Dlamini can possess in that position.
“So there’s a lot that we can discuss, we have a lot of options, we are rich with these types of technical qualities in South Africa. I don’t think we should be worried about who should play that position, although there are so many qualities that Themba Zwane possesses that make him lead, one of the best in Africa.”
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