Head coach Hugo Broos has issued his verdict on Orlando Pirates defender Thabiso Sesane who has received his first ever Bafana Bafana call-up ahead of crucial 2025 AFCON Qualifiers.
Bafana are set to take on Congo in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier clash in Gqeberha on Friday 11 October, with the return fixture being played away on Tuesday, 15 October.
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In his final 23-man squad Broos chose the tried and tested route with only Orlando Pirates' Thabiso Sesane being the only new face on the team.
Explaining his decision to pick the 24-year-old Broos said he had been impressed with Sesane's performance for The Buccaneers since the start of the season.
"I think he is playing very well at the moment," the national team coach said in the press conference where he announced the final squad.
"He did a little mistake in the last game but okay, that's why the coach changed him at half-time but yes, he is strong. He is a good defender and because of Ngezana who is injured at the moment.
"So we needed to have a replacement and yes, we thought immediately to Sesane. So, I think he deserves to be with us because he has had very good performances with Pirates.
"Ngezana didn't play the last three games so I was a little [upset].
"So we made contact with him and asked what happened. He said; 'Coach 'I'm injured,' I said 'Well please tell us that you are injured, send us the medal report!' So yes he has a muscle injury so he has not recovered at the moment. He is not playing, he is still recovering.
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"So we had to look for a replacement for him. There were a few candidates and again it was not easy, this one or that one, but yes we chose Sesane.
"Again, he has been playing since the beginning of the season, very good defender, so that's what we took him.
"It's a good thing that we have younger defenders, Sesane is not old, Ngezana is not old and that means we are in a little bit of a better situation than we were at AFCON."
Bafana take on Congo at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha on Friday, 15 October. Kick-off is at 18:00.