South Africa midfielder Sphephelo Sithole accepted responsibility for his performance in Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 opening defeat to Mexico and thanked teammates and head coach Hugo Broos for their support ahead of the must-win Group stage match against South Korea. Sithole is available for selection for Wednesday’s game in the Greater Monterrey area, a match South Africa must win to retain more than a faint chance of reaching the round of 32. The fixture kicks off at 3 a.m. South African time.
Sithole said the backing he received from the coach and the squad had been important following the Mexico loss. He praised the group dynamic and highlighted the character of his teammates and staff as a strength for the side, according to comments given to media ahead of Wednesday’s game.
Boss Hugo Broos will be without midfield regular Teboho Mokoena after the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder picked up a second yellow card of the tournament and will miss the final group match. Mokoena had scored South Africa’s penalty equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Czechia and was praised for a strong performance in that game.
Themba Zwane will also be absent after his red card against Mexico was upgraded to a three-match suspension. Sithole was sent off in the Mexico game as well but served a standard one-match ban and is now eligible to return.
Broos described Mokoena’s absence as a significant loss and noted the player’s influence on how the team sets up and performs, calling him a leader on and off the field, according to the coach’s remarks to journalists. Broos also said he trusts the squad depth and has full confidence in the player chosen to replace Mokoena.
Broos’ midfield options for the South Korea game include Jayden Adams, Thalente Mbatha and Sithole. Centre-back Mbekezeli Mbokazi offers ball-playing ability that could make him a consideration if Broos opts for an unconventional midfield solution, while Relebohile Mofokeng is the likely candidate for the number 10 role with Zwane suspended, should the coach select a player in the space behind the striker.
