Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha has called his first national team call-up a dream come true following his inclusion in South Africa’s 23-man 2025 Africa Cup of Nations squad.
Bafana will take on Uganda on 6 September at Orlando Stadium and then travel to face South Sudan on 10 September in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The KwaMashu-born player’s outstanding performance since joining the Soweto giants in January on loan from SuperSport was rewarded with a permanent contract after he helped his side to retain their Nedbank Cup trophy and has also caught the eye of coach Hugo Broos who has added him to his set-up.
Mbatha is set to play his second cup final with Pirates when they take on Stellenbosch FC in the final of the MTN8 after beating Cape Town City 3-1 on aggregate.
“It’s a dream come true and I would like to thank the God Almighty,” said Mbatha.
“One thing I can say is hard work beats talent. If you work hard it definitely gonna pay off. As much as you can have the talent but if you are not working hard something will lack here and there but if talent is going with hard work then I believe that you gonna get somewhere,” Mbatha added.
The 24-year-old has reportedly attracted the attention of the English Championship side Cardiff City. He downplayed the news citing that he remains committed to Pirates who recently made his move permanent.
“My focus is on Pirates. I just recently got myself a contract at the club, so I think everything I am doing is for Pirates and they are the ones who are going to decide what’s going to happen in the near future. But for me, my focus is at Pirates.”
Speaking to SABC during the squad announcement, Broos praised Mbatha’s development adding that they have been in search of a midfielder that possesses his qualities for a while and that he believes that this is the right time to include him in the squad.
“He is the type of player in that position we have been looking for, for a long time. He is tall and he is a typical defensive midfielder he plays in his position and he plays the game from left to right, he’s always there and available.
“He is not running like a fool in front. What I have seen from him until now, tactically, he does what he has to do, so I think this is the moment to call him for Bafana Bafana,” said the 72-year-old mentor.
