Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has sent a word of advice to Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sipho Mbule, who has impressed during his loan spell at Sekhukhune United.
Mbule last appeared in Bafana colours in 2021 while at SuperSport United. He later completed a big-money move to neighbours Sundowns where he struggled with inconsistency and ultimately lost his place in the national team.
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Ahead of the new season, Sundowns sent Mbule on a season-long loan to Babina Noko in a bid to revive the 26-year-old's career and 'Masterchef' has hit the ground running, impressing both teammates and coaches since his arrival.
Those performances have not gone unnoticed by Broos, who named Mbule in his 38-man preliminary squad. Although the Free State-born star did not make the cut for the final 23-man squad to face Uganda and South Sudan in the last round of 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Broos is keeping the door open for the skilful midfielder.
"Mbule was on the preliminary list, so he's doing well for the moment for Sekhukhune," Broos told journalists on Thursday when asked about Mbule's place at Bafana.
"But I'm not the guy who, after one good game or two good games, will say, 'Okay, this one comes to Bafana'. It's up to him to confirm in the next games.
"And then maybe we can look at him and say, 'okay, now it's the right time'. Because he's a good player. He was with us in the beginning, but after that his performances went down.
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"When I saw how he was on the pitch. There were some kilos too much also, I think, at that moment.
"So, let's hope for him that he understands that it's not enough only to have talent, you have to also be able to show your talent... And little by little, he's doing it now in Sekhukhune.
Bafana face Uganda away on Friday, 15 November, before hosting South Sudan in Cape Town on Tuesday, 19 November.