Pitso Mosimane has defended his Bafana Bafana selection process against claims he favours players from his former club, Mamelodi Sundowns FC. The national team coach said his decisions are based on facts and merit, not personal relationships or club bias. His former club's position as league leaders, with eight wins and two draws from ten games, provides a compelling statistical basis for his choices.

Speaking to reporters, Mosimane addressed the persistent criticism. "It is so difficult in the national team, people think you close your eyes and you pick," he said. He rejected the notion that his past at Sundowns influences his choices.

Why Sundowns players dominate the squad

Mosimane argued that Sundowns' success makes them the primary scouting ground for the national side. The club has 12 representatives in the current Bafana squad, a reflection of their performance both domestically and on the continent. Mamelodi Sundowns sit first in the Premier Soccer League with 26 points from ten games, having scored 27 goals and lost none. Their defensive record is equally strong, with only nine goals conceded for a goal difference of plus eighteen. Their recent 1-0 win over Golden Arrows, secured by a 69th-minute Iqraam Rayners goal, extended a winning run to three matches, solidifying their status as the league's benchmark. This consistent excellence, which includes a recent form of three wins and two draws from the last five games, Mosimane suggests, naturally provides the core talent required for international success. The team's top scorer this season, I. Rayners with four goals, is a prime example of the form players he can select.

What happens next for Sundowns and Bafana

Bafana Bafana are preparing for a key AFCON qualification double-header against Kenya. Meanwhile, Mamelodi Sundowns turn their focus to maintaining their one-point lead at the top of the standings over Orlando Pirates. Their next test is an away fixture against ninth-placed Kruger United on Saturday 28 November. This follows a busy period where they beat Durban City 4-1 and Marumo Gallants 1-0, results that have kept them at the summit. Mosimane, who led Sundowns to a CAF Champions League title and five league crowns between 2012 and 2020, stated he has his "head on the block" regarding national team responsibility. The selection debate will likely continue, but the coach's stance is clear: he picks the players he believes give South Africa the best chance to win.

The report in full is at goal.com