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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Mabasa was the PSL's top scorer last season</li><li>But he was deemed as not ripe for international football by Broos</li><li>Mashego backs the Bucs star to play for Bafana </li></ul><a href="https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vae4thkJZg4CmvuUtR3C" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL!</a><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Is Hugo Broos playing with Tshegofatso Mabasa's feelings? - Explained! Why Orlando Pirates striker is in Bafana Bafana's preliminary squad for Congo-Brazzaville matches

Orlando Pirates striker <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/broos-names-sesane-mothwa-cross-and-tau-in-bafana-bafana-preliminary-squad-to-take-on-congo-brazzaville-in-back-to-back-2025-africa-cup-of-nations-qualifiers/blt63a0cd9d2b7d4290#cs988d2886c97168af" target="_blank">Tshegofatso Mabasa was included in the 33-man Bafana Bafana squad</a> for October's back-to-back 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Congo Brazzaville.This comes after South Africa coach <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/orlando-pirates-striker-tshegofatso-mabasa-had-his-bafana-bafana-chance-and-it-was-a-disaster-hugo-broos/bltb7b4b95bdb05223a" target="_blank">Hugo Broos has insisted Mabasa is not ripe for international football.</a>This was despite Mabasa being the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/premier-soccer-league/yv73ms6v1995b5wny16jcfi3" target="_blank">Premier Soccer League</a>'s top goal-scorer last season with 16 goals and he has found the back of the net three times in nine appearances across all competitions this season.Former Pirates striker Katlego Mashego feels Mabasa is national team material.

WHAT HAPPENED?

"I cannot say the coach Hugo Broos is playing with his feelings, remember he has a pool of players," Mashego told <a href="https://www.snl24.com/kickoff/sanews/bafana/is-broos-playing-with-mabasas-feelings-20240926" target="_blank">KickOff.</a>"I think he should be encouraged that he at least makes it into the preliminary squad of 33 players. I mean how many players do we have in our league?&nbsp;&nbsp;"Regardless of whether he makes the final squad or not, at least he is in the reckoning. Meaning he is very close. He will get his chance. He shouldn't be discouraged now, he will get his chance," added the retired footballer who was known as Mahoota during his playing days.&nbsp;"Club football differs from international football. Andy Cole scored too many goals for Manchester United, but he was not prolific in the national team."Hence, the likes of Teddy Sheringham, Ian Wright, and Alan Shearer were always ahead of him when it came to the national team," he continued.&nbsp;"So this must not discourage him from doing what he does for his club, his chance will come.&nbsp;"He is a goalscorer. He scores goals for Pirates, he scores them in the Champions League, and he has scored them for Bafana Bafana before, so it's not like it's anything new, he is national team material."&nbsp;&nbsp;

WHAT MASHEGO SAID

The only time Mabasa has played under Broos was when Bafana visited Ethiopia for a 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier which they won 3-1 in October 2021. Mabasa lasted just 35 minutes in that match and was replaced by Victor Letsoalo.Another national team opportunity came at the 2023 Cosafa Cup where he scored three goals in five games under South Africa assistant coach Helman Mkhalele.It remains to be seen if Mabasa will make the final Bafana selection from a provisional team that has other forwards like Iqraam Rayners, Lyle Foster and Mihlali Mayambela.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

While Mabasa waits for Broos to name his final 23-man squad, he has an opportunity to impress further.He is expected to lead Pirates' attack when they visit Richards Bay on Sunday and finding the back of the net will increase his chances of making the final cut.

WHAT NEXT FOR MABASA?

Is Hugo Broos playing with Tshegofatso Mabasa's feelings? - Explained! Why Orlando Pirates striker is in Bafana Bafana's preliminary squad for Congo-Brazzaville matches | Goal.com

The Buccaneers forward was being overlooked for national team duty despite his impressive scoring form.

Is Hugo Broos playing with Tshegofatso Mabasa&apos;s feelings? - Explained! Why Orlando Pirates striker is in Bafana Bafana&apos;s preliminary squad for Congo-Brazzaville matches