Hugo Broos backs Mbekezeli Mbokazi for European stage

Mbokazi gave a stellar performance to earn the man of the match accolade in just his third senior international appearances, when Bafana were held to a 1-1 draw by Nigeria on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old Orlando Pirates star has impressed Broos with his displays so much so that the Belgian singled him out for a move abroad, hopefully next year."

"We have good players, we really have good players, and I hope what we've done now with the national team and hopefully what we'll do in the future, those players get the opportunity to go to Europe," said Broos.

"Because that would help South African football, you can be sure. They will play in competitions at a higher level than our PSL here in South Africa, and they will become better when they play in those competitions.

"So let's hope that the guys have the opportunity in the future – next season maybe, to do that and go and play abroad, it will be good first for the national team, but also for the national competition among South African players.

"Look at a guy like Mbokazi, you see the way he plays is like he already has 10 years' experience on this level – it's his third game with the national team, you see how he played?

"So let's hope some players can do the step next year, it will be good for South African football, believe me."

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Despite missing several key figures in Themba Zwane, Patrick Maswanganyi, Khuliso Mudau, Grant Kekana, and Nkosinathi Sibisi, Broos also expressed satisfaction with the depth he now has at his disposal.

"I heard that they were complaining a little bit because Osimhen was not there, but in Bafana there were six players not there, so I think if you see the team of Nigeria, even without Osimhen, they have so many other players so you don't have to complain," he added.

"I don't complain either about the players who were not there today because I want to have a real team that, if someone fell out, we have another one, and I think we're succeeding in that.

"Even though today it was not so easy for Thabiso [Monyane] to come in because Zuko [Mdunyelwa] was injured, but there was nothing changing, and that makes me enormously happy and proud that we've built this team like this.

"We don't have to be afraid anymore if someone is out injured or suspended, or whatever, there are replacements, and that makes us so strong at the moment, so let's go on."