Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has made an honest admission on Lyle Foster, revealing that the Houston Dynamo forward ‘still has a lot of work to catch up’ on to reach peak match sharpness after being recalled to the national team.
After being excluded from the September national team camp in which Bafana played three games, Foster is now back. The Houston Dynamo FC man is in line for selection when Bafana host Kenya in a 2027 AFCON qualifier at Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.
South Africa will then travel to Nairobi for the away fixture against the Harambee Stars next Tuesday. Foster is part of Mosimane’s strikeforce which also includes Iqraam Rayners, Cassius Mailula and Luther Singh.
The veteran coach had to overlook the Orlando Pirates duo of Yanela Mbuthuma and Evidence Makgopa. The latter is back to full fitness, but it is Foster who found space in the team. The former AS Monaco striker missed the previous national team camp as he adjusted to life in the USA at his new club [Houston Dynamo] following his loan move from Burnley FC.
PITSO MOSIMANE ON WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO GIVE LYLE FOSTER A BAFANA BAFANA CHANCE
Since the end of September, after arriving in the MLS early that month, Foster has made eight appearances for Houston Dynamo and scored just once. In all eight matches, he has yet to complete 90 minutes.
However, Mosimane feels the striker deserves his spot back in the national team, although he admits the player has some catching up to do. This is Foster’s first time with Bafana since the 2026 FFIA World Cup in North America.
“I believe he is playing now, a few minutes. Not all 90 minutes, but very good, starting and all that. Honestly, he still has a lot of work to catch up to be at his peak when he went to the UK,” Mosimane told journalists at a press conference on Monday.
“But also important to give him a chance to be around and let’s see. The appetite is there. You can only see at training, in the matches, and yes, very good striker. I don’t think we can all forget the goals he scored for us to qualify for the World Cup. He is a top player. But you know, in football, yesterday’s prize is not today’s prize, like in business.
“Let’s see what he has. For me, it is about giving him a chance and an opportunity to be part of the national team. It’s not up to me; it’s up to him, all in him now. I do what I have to do, and I must remain consistent, even with other players. You know [Tshepang] Moremi was not part of the team; he came back.
“[Thalente] Mbatha was not part of the team because of injuries; he’s back. Lyle must be back also to be given a chance to be part of the national team because they worked so hard to be at AFCON and the World Cup.”
RELATED STORY: Lyle Foster’s qualities explained after completing Houston Dynamo move
