Head coach Hugo Broos has revealed the qualities that have kept SuperSport United defender Nyiko Mobbie an ever-present figure in the Bafana Bafana squad.
The next assignment for Bafana is collecting six points against Lesotho and Benin as the bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intensifies.
First up is Lesotho, with the home match set for New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday (18:00), before getting on the plane to Ivory Coast to face off with Benin.
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When Broos announced the squad on Friday, one of the first names was Mobbie. The player's ubiquity in the squad has, for some time, piqued the curiosity of a lot of fans, especially seeing he does not appear to be first choice at right back.
Mobbie made his national team debut in 2019, two years before the Belgian took over the reins. He was part of the squad that returned with bronze at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, played in January to February this year.
"Mobbie was with us from the beginning and you can always count on him and he never disappoints," Broos responded when the question was posed.
"So, in the games, he played with the national team ... except, I know you say what bout the game against France? But that was something else. They killed him there on the right side.
"But for the rest, every game that he played, I was satisfied with him.
"Also at SuperSport, he plays his games, that is first. Secondly, when you change, you have to be sure that you are better. And for me, for the moment, the guy I want to see when he comes back from injury is Thabang Matuludi from Polokwane [City]," he continued.
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Notably, statistically, Mobbie is not the most selected player under Broos. That honour belongs to Teboho Mokoena, who has earned 35 caps since the 72-year-old took charge in 2021.
Ronwen Williams comes second with 32 caps under the forthright gaffer.