Junior Khanye Hails Sipho Mbule as a National Team “Blessing”

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Junior Khanye has described Patrick Maswanganyi’s injury as a “blessing in disguise,” as it opened the door for Orlando Pirates’ Sipho Mbule to return to the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.

In an exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma, Khanye praised Mbule’s talent and called for him to be a regular starter for both club and country. He emphasized that any coach who understands football cannot ignore the midfielder’s abilities.

“There is no coach in the entire world who can deny Sipho Mbule what God gave him. I am talking about top-class coaches… there is no coach who cannot play him,” Khanye said, citing figures like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Mikel Arteta, and local coaches such as Rulani Mokwena and Pitso Mosimane.

Khanye expressed frustration over Mbule’s limited playing time at Pirates, acknowledging that while the player could improve certain aspects of his game, he should still be trusted to perform. “Sipho needs to do extra, you know. But as a person, as a player, if people don’t trust you, you become demoralised. They signed him at Orlando Pirates as a playmaker, so they must have faith in him,” he said.

Khanye also compared Mbule to some of South Africa’s legendary midfielders, highlighting his vision, skill, and playmaking ability. “There is no player like Sipho Mbule in central midfield in South Africa at the moment. He reminds me of Thabo Lawrence Mooki. He reminds me of Jabulani Mendu. That guy is on another level,” Khanye stated.

He praised national team coach Hugo Broos for recognising Mbule’s potential and bringing him back into the squad, noting that it sends a message to Pirates’ technical team and the wider football community. “Credit to Hugo Broos to select him just to prove to Orlando Pirates and the coach and the technical team that he is one of the best, even if they don’t play him regularly,” Khanye said.

Khanye openly criticized Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou for not giving Mbule sufficient opportunities, particularly over other players like Abdoulaye Mariko. “Sipho deserves to get a call-up. Once you show faith in him, he will show you miracles because he can win you matches,” he added.

Despite past mistakes, Khanye called for patience and support for Mbule. “Yes, he has made mistakes in the past. But he is human. He just needs to grab his chances with both hands now… each and every fan loves Sipho. He should not let them down,” he said.

When asked to compare Mbule with Mamelodi Sundowns captain Themba Zwane, Khanye declined to make a direct comparison but stressed Mbule’s unique qualities. “Zwane is good, but Sipho graduated at SuperSport United academy, and he didn’t take long. He was a star player at SuperSport. Sundowns bought a gem there,” he said.

Khanye concluded by emphasizing Mbule’s potential impact if given consistent playing time and freedom on the pitch. “It’s just match fitness as he is not playing regularly at Pirates, but with time, there is something he can do there… He doesn’t lose the ball,” Khanye said.

His strong advocacy for Mbule highlights the ongoing debate in South African football about talent, opportunity, and consistency. As Bafana Bafana prepare for vital World Cup qualifiers, the spotlight is now on Mbule to seize this opportunity and prove his quality at both club and international level.