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Eric Tinkler and Gavin Hunt, Sekhukhune United vs Durban CityBackpage
Seth Willis

Should Kaizer Chiefs borrow a leaf? Eric Tinkler 'not surprised' with Keletso Makgalwa's Bafana Bafana snub! Refuses to 'entirely agree' with Hugo Broos about Sekhukhune United playing best football

Domestic football is set to take a break for two weeks to pave way for international football as most teams chase a ticket to compete globally.

  • Bafana Bafana will be in action this week
  • Sekhukhune among the teams snubbed
  • Tinkler opens up 
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos recently named his final 23-man squad for the forthcoming international assignments.

    South Africa plays Lesotho and Nigeria, respectively, in Group C's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.     

    Despite their good start to the 2025/26 Premier Soccer League campaign, Sekhukhune United did not make the team.

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  • Mduduzi Shabalala, Kaizer Chiefs, August 2025Backpagepix

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Kaizer Chiefs and Sekhukhune are jointly leading the Premier Soccer League table with 13 points from the five matches played.

    While Babina Noko did not produce a player, Amakhosi's Mduduzi Shabalala made it, something that did not impress the Amakhosi fans.  

    However, Sekhukhune coach Eric Tinkler is satisfied with Hugo Broos' decision, arguing he did not expect many changes.

  • Eric Tinkler of Sekhukhune UnitedBackpagepix

    WHAT TINKLER SAID

    “I am not surprised [that there’s no Sekhukhune player in the Bafana Bafana squad] because the national team is doing well," he told the media.  

    "So, if the national team is doing well, why are you going to chop and change players?

    “So, you’ve got to allow those players [who’re currently in the team] to prove why they are doing well, and obviously if the form goes down, then you now start looking at other players," he added. 

    "For me it’s not a surprise; they have selected a squad that has done extremely well," Tinkler concluded.

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  • Siphesihle Mkhize and Pule Mmodi, Sekhukhune United vs Kaizer ChiefsBackpage

    AND WHAT IS MORE

    Despite opting against including Babina Noko players in his squad, Broos lauded them for their fine game, but Tinkler is refusing to concede that his team plays the best game in Mzansi. 

    “I don’t know, maybe I don’t entirely agree. We have to be better on the ball... I still think there’s a lot of room for improvement in terms of how we play,” he concluded.  

  • WHAT NEXT?

    Having started the season well, chnaces are high that Broos might consider some players from the two clubs in the final round of the qualifiers scheduled for October, that is, if they sustain their current form. 

    Bafana Bafana might seal their place in the 2026 World Cup finals if they collect maximum points against the Crocodiles and the Super Eagles.  

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