Defender Nkosinathi Sibisi has opened up on the challenge of reduced game-time at Orlando Pirates this season, as the Bafana Bafana defender prepares to take on Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier.
Sibisi featured 25 times for Pirates this season, a drop from the 35 occasions he donned the famous Black and White strip in his debut season. Worrisome is that he played just one of the side's last five league matches of the season.
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The return to fitness of Olisa Ndah and the emergence of academy graduate Thabiso Sesane have also presented further hurdles for the former Golden Arrows captain.
Speaking to media ahead of Bafana's clash against Nigeria, Sibisi opened up on the struggles of playing time at club level and thanked Bafana coach Hugo Broos for keeping the faith by selecting him for the national team.
"I'd like to thank the coach [Broos] for having confidence in me,'' Sibisi said.
"Not playing regularly at my club hasn't done a lot [of damage] on my confidence. I still know what I am able to do regardless of limited game-time at my club.
"Going forward, I will try to get more minutes at Pirates.
"I am mentally strong and that has helped me a lot in dealing with the situation of not playing regularly at my team.''
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The 28-year-old has also not featured in Bafana's last five matches, but was on the substitutes' bench against Algeria.
Bafana will take on Nigeria on Friday at 21:00 (SA time).
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