Hugo Broos on Mduduzi Shabalala Bafana debut | OneFootball

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Broos speaks on Shabalala national team debut

Photo: Dirk Kotze/ Gallo Images

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has spoken about handing Mduduzi Shabalala his senior national team debut against Rwanda on Tuesday.

The Kaizer Chiefs starlet donned the famous Bafana jersey for the first time as he entered the fray in the closing stages with South Africa comfortably leading Amavubi 3-0 to secure their ticket at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

When quizzed on giving the player few minutes for his maiden run out like he did with Relebohile Mofokeng, Broos stressed the importance of not rushing youngsters and admits Shabalala left a lasting impression in training.

“When you work with young players it's normal that I can't give them a standard role in the team. So, you have to bring [integrate] them easily and on the right moment and I think today [Tuesday] was the right moment even if it was only three or five minutes,” the Belgian mentor explained.

"But they taste the atmosphere and the group spirit and I wouldn't give them a chance if I didn't see how they behave in training. I can make an example of Shabalala - he wanted to prove himself in training and this is what I want.

The 73-year-old tactician went on to hail Stellenbosch FC striker Ashley Cupido for not demanding a prominent role in the team after receiving an emergency call-up to replace the injured Lyle Foster on Monday night.

"Cupido came, he didn't ask me questions. I told him when he arrived, ‘we will see if Lyle is ready, you will be on the stands and if Lyle is not ready [Evidence] Makgopa will start and you will be on the bench and he said, ’no problem, I am so happy that I am here.

"You can work with such guys because they like to come, they don't ask conditions, ‘am I playing or not,'. The coach called me, the national team wants me, I'm coming.