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Malibongwe Khoza ready to seize Bafana Bafana chance after surprise call-up

Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifiers

Mihlali Baleka|Published

Malibongwe Khoza celebrates his maiden Bafana Bafana call-up ahead of South Africa’s crucial World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media

Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media

Malibongwe Khoza didn’t think it would happen so soon. But such is his determination to succeed in his career that he’s not taking any opportunity lightly — nor is he getting carried away.

Khoza earned his maiden Bafana Bafana call-up for the two crucial 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers: against Zimbabwe at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, and against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium next Tuesday. Both games are scheduled for a 6pm kick-off.

While his quick integration into coach Hugo Broos’ plans was unexpected, Khoza wasn’t just sitting and waiting. He was working hard.

As such, he believes that if he hadn’t gone to the Chan tournament with the makeshift Bafana side under coach Molefi Ntseki earlier this winter, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

“I didn’t think that it was going to come this early, but I was always motivated and working on my next (target),” Khoza revealed, during Bafana’s team arrival press conference at Dobsonville Stadium on Monday afternoon. “So, I wanted to make sure that I perform in each and every game.”

While Chan s not as glamorous or prestigious as AFCON, Khoza explained why he grabbed the opportunity with both hands when it was presented to him by Ntseki and his club, Mamelodi Sundowns.

“The team let me know that when I go to Chan, they are letting me go because they wanted me to gain national team experience — something that I didn’t have before,” Khoza said.

“I went there, got some experience after getting some minutes. So, I started to play more, and I’ve now regained my confidence.”

And having regained his confidence — which has also seen him break into the starting lineup at the star-studded Sundowns — he offered advice to other players on why they shouldn’t overlook so-called smaller tournaments like Chan and COSAFA.

“As players, we tend to look down on Chan and COSAFA, like you mentioned,” Khoza stated.

“I don’t think it’s supposed to be that way. It should be a way of giving experience to some players who can’t break into the main team. So, when you go to Chan or other tournaments like COSAFA, you gain national team experience, grow, and learn how the national team plays.”

It wasn’t only Ntseki and Sundowns who encouraged Khoza to take the Chan opportunity seriously — someone close to him did, too.

“He (my father) was very happy, and he told me that I must go to Chan after getting my first call-up,” Khoza revealed. “He told me I must focus and continue to work hard.”

Working hard and staying focused are what Khoza believes will improve his chances of retaining his place in the Bafana setup, heading into two major tournaments: AFCON in Morocco later this year, and potentially the World Cup — which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada next year.

“I think consistency is important, though it’s not an easy thing to do as a player because sometimes you have downfalls,” Khoza said. “So, there’ll be big differences in your game, which is why you need to make sure you take care of yourself.”

Khoza and the rest of the squad are set to camp in Johannesburg until Thursday before flying to Durban in the afternoon, ahead of the must-win clash against the Warriors on Friday night. Coach Broos has had only one withdrawal from his final 23-man squad, with the injured Relebohile Mofokeng being replaced by Mduduzi Shabalala.

The overseas-based duo, Lyle Foster and Sphephelo Sithole, are expected to land in the country on Tuesday. So, by the time the training camp ends in Johannesburg, Khoza will hope he’s done enough to convince Broos that he’s ready to start in the two qualifiers.

After all, Broos needs confident players like Khoza at the moment as Bafana must convincingly beat both Zimbabwe and Rwanda to have any chance of finishing top of Group C, and qualifying for the World Cup through the qualifiers since 2002.

At the moment, they are second in the group with 14 points, tied with leaders Benin, who lead with a superior goal difference.