Hugo Broos elated with return of key player | OneFootball

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Broos happy with return of long-term abstentee

Photo: Zakes Photography

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has expressed his delight at having midfielder Sphephelo Sithole back in the team for the crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.

The 25-year-old midfield maestro endured a lengthy spell on the sidelines after a career-threatening injury last year in September in the AFCON qualifiers against South Sudan.

While he admits Sithole's injury left a void in the team, the Belgian mentor heaped praise on those who stepped up in the absence of the Tondela midfielder.

“First of all I am very happy that we could replace Yaya for a year. When you see what the others did for the team and how important he was the moment he got injured, then as a coach you start thinking about how to replace that player because he became important for the team,” said Broos.

"But we did it very well, the boys who replaced him did it very well. Last year our group became bigger, options were more than before the injury of Yaya.

With ‘Yaya', as the player is fondly known, having become a vital cog in the midfield, Broos says he closely tracked his recovery and hopes he can still perform at the highest level.

“But I always followed his recovery very close because I know he is a very important player for us. So, I was very happy that at the end of last season everything went well and that now in the beginning of the season he already played two or three games I think,” he added.

"So he has recovered totally but let's hope that he is still at the level he was at one year ago and he will have good performances.