Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has praised midfielder Sipho Mbule for his growing influence in the national team setup and revealed how a simple half-time message sparked his second-half revival against Zimbabwe.
The 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier, played in front of a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday night, ended goalless — a result that dented Bafana’s qualification hopes. Though officially designated as the away team, the Warriors hosted the clash in Durban due to none of Zimbabwe’s stadiums meeting Fifa accreditation standards.
Despite the frustrating result, Broos found reason for encouragement in Mbule’s display. The Orlando Pirates midfielder, affectionately known as ‘MasterChef’, has worked his way back into the national picture after missing out on several squads earlier this year.
His recall came during the September international break, following Patrick Maswanganyi’s injury withdrawal, and Mbule seized the opportunity — starting in both qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria, clocking up 74 and 84 minutes respectively.
Broos said he has been impressed with the creative midfielder’s growth and maturity since returning to the fold.
“I think Sipho played a very good game,” said Broos.
“I said at half-time that he had to be more involved in the game. You saw in the second half when he was on the ball, and many times when he was on the field, something good came out of it. So, again, I think after the last games against Lesotho and Nigeria, and now with the game (Friday), we can be very happy with Sipho’s performance.”
Mbule’s ability to dictate play and link up with forwards Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis offered Bafana much-needed balance in the attacking third. His composure under pressure and eye for a pass were central to the hosts’ creative moments, even as Zimbabwe’s deep defensive block frustrated their rhythm.
For Broos, finding the perfect No 10 remains one of the team’s ongoing challenges — but Mbule’s recent consistency could be turning that search into a solution. His vision and control in tight spaces have drawn comparisons to the likes of Themba Zwane, long seen as the benchmark for creativity in Bafana’s midfield.
“Players like Sipho are very important because they make the link between midfield and attack,” Broos noted in a previous presser. “We have to build confidence around players like him who can make a difference with one touch or one pass.”
Attention now turns to Tuesday’s decisive clash against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium, with kick-off set for 6pm. A win is non-negotiable if Bafana are to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive — and much will again depend on Mbule’s ability to pull the strings from midfield.
