Pitso Mosimane Loses Patience With Journalist Over TLB Question After Bafana's Draw Against Kenya

Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has expressed his frustration with a journalist following a question about Mbekezeli ‘TLB’ Mbokazi's absence from the starting line-up during South Africa's disappointing 2-2 draw against Kenya in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.

South Africa were held to a frustrating draw by Benni McCarthy's Harambee Stars on Friday night, with a late equaliser from Ryan Ogam denying Mosimane's men all three points at Orlando Stadium.

The result brought an end to Bafana Bafana's impressive winning run under their returning coach and raised questions about some of his tactical and selection decisions.

One of the major talking points after the encounter was the decision to leave highly rated defender Mbokazi on the bench, despite his return to the national team setup.

The Chicago Fire defender had missed Mosimane's previous camp through injury, with the coach subsequently relying on Olwethu Makhanya and Ime Okon in central defence.

The pair retained their starting positions against Kenya, despite Mbokazi being available for selection.

When questioned about the decision after the match, Mosimane appeared unhappy with the suggestion that Mbokazi's absence from the starting XI could have contributed to Bafana's failure to secure victory.

The experienced tactician challenged the journalist, insisting that the team's missed opportunities were a more significant factor in the dropped points.

"Ahh come on guys, you can't go there. Come on, you don't want me to lose respect of you. You can't go there," Mosimane responded.

He continued by questioning whether the journalist was suggesting that the decision not to start Mbokazi was responsible for the disappointing result.

"Now you choose who must play. So we lost because of that or we lost because we missed many chances, come on," he added.

Interestingly, Mosimane also acknowledged that the question was legitimate, although he clearly disagreed with the direction of the discussion.

"You can better than what you're saying, right? It's the right time to ask by the way, you are right," he concluded.

The exchange highlights the pressure that comes with managing Bafana Bafana, particularly when results do not go according to expectations.

Mosimane has previously made it clear that no player is guaranteed a starting position, regardless of reputation or previous contributions to the national team.

Following the draw, attention will now shift to the return fixture against Kenya in Nairobi, where Bafana will be determined to respond positively and restore confidence among South African football supporters.

For Mosimane, the challenge will be finding the right balance between maintaining his selection philosophy and delivering the results expected from the national team.

Source https://x.com/i/status/2121323419597734187