Pitso Mosimane explains how he is trying to build ‘total-team’ culture

When he joined Mamelodi Sundowns from Golden Arrows in July, most football fans feared that exciting winger Siyanda Ndlovu might struggle to get game time at the star-studded side.

Fast forward about four months, and 23-year-old “Skhwishi” has earned his first Bafana Bafana call-up for their back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Kenya.

Bafana host Benni McCarthy’s “Harambee Stars” at Orlando Stadium on Friday (6pm) before traveling to Nairobi for the second leg on Tuesday, November 17.

Ndlovu was not in the preliminary squad, but his impressive performances have led coach Pitso Mosimane to pick him for the crucial qualifiers where Bafana are looking to extend their lead at the top of Group D.

In his last three matches, Ndlovu helped Sundowns to wins over Golden Arrows, Durban City and Marumo Gallants in all competitions.

I want to check him in the national team because this is not the same level as club level.

—  Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane

“If you look at his last few games, he came out with two man-of-the-match awards, he is scoring, assisting and he is a deliberate player.

“He is a little bit of a duplicate of Thapelo Maseko, and I like those types of wingers,” said Mosimane.

“Some people like wingers to turn around, but I like them going for one-on-ones and going behind the defence and bringing the ball into the box ... and let’s tap it in. Those are my kind of wingers.

“He is deliberate. But you must score also goals. You can’t just tell us about assists. He is that kind of player, who has intensity.”

Mosimane said while they were introducing Ndlovu into the national team set-up, there was no guarantee that he was going to get an opportunity to play.

“I want to check him in the national team, because this is not the same level as club level. We want to see how he is, how he will fit in, and we need to create a big pool of players.

“We don’t have time and I am not like Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus‚ who says: ‘I am taking the England tour’. I have to follow what Fifa gives me. And at the moment there are friendly games until the Afcon final.

“How am I going to see the players who are doing well? I need to bring them into the camp and train with them. When we bring you in, it doesn’t mean you are going to play.

“We acknowledge that you are doing well. Now we want to see if you can fit into the set-up, we want you to come and learn how we do things here because we do things differently to your club.

“We have our own set-pieces and corner kicks, etc. Can these players adapt. Maybe not easily, but let him come to see how it’s done at the national team.

“This is international level and it is not only about talent, it is about fitting into the group. We are building a culture and we need to keep it in the national team.

“Look at the culture of the Springboks, the coaches play whatever player they want to play. And there is no player who is going to say ‘I am not playing’.

“We are not copying from the Boks, because all the programmes are different all the way from school level. Where is my Craven Week in football? We don’t have those kinds of programmes to build from.”