Former Orlando Pirates star Mark Mayambela has expressed worry about Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena being fatigued ahead of Bafana Bafana‘s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign.
South Africa head to North America for a fourth appearance at the global football fiesta. For a side that last participated at the World Cup in 2010, it will be the first time for all their players to be at this competition.
Included in coach Hugo Broos’ 26-man squad for the World Cup is Mokoena, who has been a vital cog in the Bafana set-up under the Belgian. The Masandawana central midfielder has been to two AFCON finals with the former Cameroon coach in charge.
At club level, Mokoena has also established himself as a key Sundowns player and recently helped them win the CAF Champions League. His goal against AS FAR Rabat in the second leg of the Champions League final was instrumental in handing the title to the Brazilians.
MAYAMBELA’S WORRY ABOUT TEBOHO MOKOENA: ‘HE HAS NOT RESTED’
Mokoena played 41 games for Masandawana across all competitions during the just-ended 2025/26 season. He also featured in all four of Bafana Bafana’s matches at the 2025 AFCON tournament, making a further seven national team appearances in World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies across the different FIFA breaks—missing only the recent clash against Nicaragua.
That has left Mayambela concerned that fatigue could catch up with 29-year-old Mokoena at the World Cup.
“I’m a bit worried about Tebza, of course, with the amount of games he has played since the [2025 FIFA] Club World Cup. I don’t think he had more rest,” said Mayambela on Izinja ZeGame with Josta Dladla.
“And in December, he was in the AFCON squad, and now he has just finished playing the Champions League. I watch him; he has a big heart, and he is a soldier as well.
“The intensity of the game today is not the same as before. The intensity of the game has become more explosive. I was looking at statistics when Sundowns played the [Champions League] final against Pyramids FC. They [Sundowns] encountered 266 pressing moments.
“When Sundowns play in the PSL, they encounter half of that or even less of that. You see, the level they play in the Champions League is not the same level they play here at home.
“Now, if in the Champions League they encounter 266 pressing moments, imagine at the Club World Cup against Borussia Dortmund, because if you look at the two goals that we [Sundowns] conceded were goals from pressing moments as well.
“The level of competition is very important, where the players play because the likes of Tebza are used to that level.”
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