Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has sent a message to Fawaaz Basadien and Sinoxolo Kwayiba after they were omitted from his recent 23-man squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.
Basadien captained South Africa in their previous international break in their 0-0 draw with Tanzania, rewarded for his scintillating form for Stellenbosch where he emerged as one of the leading platers at left back in Africa.
Kwayiba started in the 10 role, a position Broos is actively seeking a reliable alternative for Themba Zwane in the senior national team – and scored in the 2-0 win over Mozambique.
There domestic form for Stellenbosch FC and Chippa United naturally attracted interest and both made off-season moves, as Basadien joined Sundowns, as their sixth left-back, while Kwayiba joined Pirates an an equally competitive environment for first XI minutes.
“Fawaaz, and his is for every player, look at Kwayiba at Pirates… when you change club, first of all you need to adapt to the club, there’s different rules, different ways of playing, so everything is different than the club you come from,” Broos said.
“I think this is the little from of Fawaaz, he came, didn’t play so well, he was then out the team – yesterday they took him out again a little but after half-time, I think it’s a question of confidence now.
“When I see Fawaaz now and the one from last year, there’s a difference and then you have to decide as a coach – not to take him and take a guy who plays always, like for example, Kabini – he plays all the games for Molde.
“So I know this one is ready and it’s a difficult choice because Fawaaz is always with us but yeah – it is what it is – and as a coach you have to take the decision there and imagine that Fawaaz is with us and he’s playing and then you will ask why not Kabini?
“And you’re right because this one is playing. These things can happen and I hope Fawaaz is fighting to win back his position in the team.”
South Africa will report for camp on Monday before taking on Lesotho on 5 September and Nigeria four days later, both games set to be played in Bloemfontein.
