Did Kaizer Chiefs' Rushwin Dortley enrich Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana centre-back options? Ex-Premier League star admires the Belgian's 'good headache'

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has a wide pool of central defenders to choose from including Kaizer Chiefs Rushwin Dortley who debuted for the national side in 2024.

Others at the Belgian's disposal include Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, Nkosinathi Sibisi and Siyabonga Ngezana.

Former South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena describes the coach's situation as "a good headache."

“It’s a nice competition. It’s a healthy competition. From the coaching perspective, I think they have assembled a good team in that department. One can see the quality of the team, and there is great improvement,” Mokoena told FARPost.

“It’s a good headache for coach Hugo Broos and Helman Mkhalele. It’s better for a coach to have options than none. What I have seen is good competition, which is so important, improving our quality and the national team. 

“In the last matches, Mthobi Mvala was in, and Grant [Kekana] was out. It shows that the technical team’s options are really good," the former Portsmouth defender added. 

“The future looks bright for us as a nation. It’s so promising. I think we are on the right track in terms of producing quality players, not only defenders.”

After making his Bafana debut at the 2024 Cosafa where he was captain, Dortley went on to feature in every minute of Bafana Bafana's six 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches.

Coach Hugo Broos was changing other centre-backs like Ngezana, Kekana and Mvala to play alongside Dortley.

The regular game time he is enjoying at Bafana level is exactly the same manner he has been ever-present in all Chiefs' eight competitive matches so far this season.

When Bafana resume their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in March 2025, Broos' options at the heart of defence might have further expanded.

Orlando Pirates defender Tapelo Xoki might be back from injury while Thabiso Sesane and Kekana will be pushing to be included after being dropped from the last camp.