Former Bafana Bafana striker Siyabonga Nomvethe has been impressed with the way Sipho Mbule has managed to bounce back to his best at Sekhukhune United.
The 26-year-old midfielder, who is currently on loan at Sekhukhune United, arrived at Mamelodi Sundowns in 2022 but has been struggling to nail down a regular place in the team.
Come the 2024/25 season, Mbule has become his old self again after accepting a loan move to the Limpopo club.
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Although he has scored only one goal, Mbule has been shining in the four matches he has played so far at Sekhukhune this season, which earned him a call up to the Bafana Bafana squad.
Nomvethe says it is noy surprising that Mbule has been included in the preliminary squad by Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
"The reason he's been performing like this might be the fact that he is free; he is now at a club where the competition for places is not so tight like it was at Sundowns," Nomvethe tells KickOff.
"He is now playing week in week out. Something that is motivating him to work even harder than before.
"The biggest problem at his previous club was the number of quality players that were there. It depends on a player how hard he works to win the jersey.
"The more you are relaxed it is the more you will lose your jersey.
"As for him being selected for the Bafana Bafana squad after only three games, it's because Bafana Bafana is not a club but a national team.
"So whoever is on form and performing well deserves to be allowed to play for his country.
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"It's his hard work, Sipho Mbule, that took him to the top. It's difficult for the Bafana Bafana coaches to notice you if you are not playing week in and week out at your club.
"The reason I rate Mbule so high is because he managed to bounce back, and he is even starting to score goals now.
"He is a quality player; it's not like he was bad at Sundowns; given an opportunity, he was performing very well. I watched his games at Sundowns.
"They have a big squad at Sundowns; they change their team every game; even from outside, you can easily tell the competition is higher at that club."