Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Lebogang Maboe believes that Pitso Mosimane's knowledge of the local football landscape will give him an advantage after Mosimane takes charge of the Bafana Bafana national team.
Maboe is well acquainted with Mosimane, as he previously played under his guidance at Mamelodi Sundowns, where he moved from Maritzburg United, and later to Durban City.
He stated: 'Congratulations to coach Pitso; I am very happy for him. I think he will succeed in the national team because he knows this league and its players very well.'
Mosimane is preparing to form a preliminary squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea-Conakry and Eritrea, as well as for a scheduled friendly match against Egypt.
Maboe, who was included in the preliminary list for the 2026 World Cup, might be selected again if he maintains his form at Kaizer Chiefs.
The thirty-one-year-old player spent four seasons under Mosimane at Sundowns, winning the league title in each of those seasons. It was during this period that Maboe developed into a versatile player, as Mosimane utilized him in various positions, including number ten and wing-back.
At Kaizer Chiefs, Maboe primarily plays in the eighth and sixth positions under Fernando Da Cruz. The midfielder now hopes that his form will allow him another chance with the Bafana national team, with his last international appearance being in 2021 during Bruce's first official match.
Furthermore, Maboe has set a personal goal to improve his attacking statistics this season. Last week, he scored a penalty in the Kaizer Chiefs match against Richards Bay, which ended 2-2, thus ending a five-year wait for a goal. His previous goal was scored on May 26, 2021, during Sundowns' 3-1 victory over the now defunct SuperSport United.
Despite his versatility remaining one of his main strengths, Maboe aims to participate more in the final third of the field, striving to establish himself as an important player under Da Cruz. Mosimane's return at the helm of Bafana offers Maboe a new path to the national team, provided he performs strongly for Kaizer Chiefs.