Patosi is ‘working hard’ for a Bafana recall

IT’S been a while since Ayanda Patosi represented Bafana Bafana but the Cape Town City man feels that he is not far off from returning to the senior national team.

Patosi is a player with immense ability but his weight has hampered his progress. He returned to South Africa last season after spending six years in Belgium where he was on the books of Lokoren.

Patosi showed glimpses of his best last term but couldn’t fulfil his potential because he gained a lot of weight. He worked diligently in the off season to get himself back in shape. That has contributed significantly to his form.

On Monday the Bafana Bafana coach, Stuart Baxter, announced his side to face Seychelles in back to back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers home and away. Patosi’s name was nowhere to be found but he is adamant that the Bafana call up is imminent.

“I’m closer to that Bafana call up. I’m working hard on it. I want to be back into the Bafana Bafana team.

“The more I’m playing at Cape Town City, I know I have the chance to go back to Bafana,” a confident Patosi said.

Patosi made his Bafana debut back in 2012. He has earned 12 appearances while netting three strikes for his country.

“I’m still young, I’m 25 years old. So, if I can get the call up I will be happy because people can see what I’m doing and the hard work that I’m putting on the field of play. Hopefully if it happens it happens,” he added.

Patosi won his first trophy since returning to South Africa this past weekend as City swept aside SuperSport United 4-1 on penalties in the final of the MTN8 at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

“It is the best feeling ever especially when you deserve the trophy. We played well. We were calm on the ball and we created chances. We should have won the game in the 90 minutes. It is a game of football, if we have to go on penalties and then we have to kill it. I’m proud of the boys and I’m proud of myself that I’ve won a trophy in South Africa,” Patosi explained.

The Citizens gained revenge over the Pretoria-based outfit as the same side defeated them last season to lift the same trophy at the same stadium.

“It was not easy to accept that we lost the game last season. I can feel the joy that we missed out last season. We are happy,” Patosi concluded.