Hugo Broos reveals 'this is a second chance you get; don’t spoil it' warning to Orlando Pirates' Sipho Mbule as Bafana Bafana gear up for crucial World Cup qualifiers

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has revealed what he told Orlando Pirates midfielder Sipho Mbule when he returned to the national side.

The Bafana's mentor has described how he engaged the attacking midfielder and what is expected from him as they gear up for do-or-die games.

“I told him, Sipho, when he came to camp, I said, ‘Sipho, this is a second chance you get. Don’t spoil it',” Broos said on SABC1.

“He was with us from the first day I was here. But yeah, there were some other things I think [were more] important for him than football, certain moments. He’s a guy with much talent, but when you see his career, even though he played in good teams, he didn’t have the career that was equivalent to it," he added.

“I think it motivated him. I told him also, ‘Look, if you do what you have to do, and you show me, there is AFCON in December; don’t forget it.’ Yeah, but motivate anyone twice.

“He did what we asked from him, and I gave him the confidence again to be with us again and to do the same thing again. And it should help us. It should help the team enormously.”

The former Sundowns star returned to Bafana for the first time since 2021 when he was summoned for the World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.

He played in both games and has been called up again for the crucial games scheduled for October. These are must-win matches for Bafana, who suffered a point deduction for fielding suspended Teboho Mokoena.

With Mbule enjoying impressive form even with the club, Broos believes he will offer what is required when South Africa play their remaining qualifiers.

His presence in the squad means Broos has trusted him to fill the void left by injured Themba Zwane.

Bafana, on 14 points and second in Group C, will play Zimbabwe on October 10 before hosting Rwanda on October 14.

These are games that Mbule must make sure he is in top form to help the country and also raise his profile as one of the key players.