Hlatshwayo tips Pule to shine

Pirates winger is poised for debut

He may have been a late callup, but Bafana Bafana captain Thulani “Tyson” Hlatshwayo says he would like to see his former Bidvest Wits teammate Vincent Pule get a run in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

Pule has been in such fine form for new club Orlando Pirates that he was unlucky not to have been named in Stuart Baxter’s original squad for Saturday’s Cameroon 2019 qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium (3pm).

A dislocated toe to Themba Zwane in Mamelodi Sundowns’ MTN8 semifinal against Cape Town City saw Pule called as replacement.

He might well have put his name forward for even a starting place when scoring one of Bafana’s goals – the other was by Bradley Grobler – in a friendly win against AmaZulu at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Wednesday.

“I’m hoping Vincent Pule can get an opportunity to display his talent,” said Hlatshwayo this week.

Asked who he thought might be a player to watch against Libya, he said: “We know that we’ve lost four players. Some of them are the guys who played against Nigeria – they’re the regulars in the Bafana camp.

“So I think this will be an opportunity for the new guys to step up because this is not a team, it’s a country, and we all want to represent SA.”

In the form he is in, against a Libya who have drawn nine of their last 19 matches and seem a difficult team to break down defensively, Pule might have something to offer Bafana whether starting [the match] or off the bench.

The injuries to Amiens’ Bongani Zungu and Sundowns’ Hlompho Kekana have made the most likely midfield pairing on Saturday in SuperSport United’s Dean Furman and Brentford’s Kamohelo Mokotjo, though Sundowns’ Tiyani Mabunda has a chance to force his way in too.

Mokotjo was asked if he feels any pressure in the crucial central-midfield, where games can be won or lost.

“No, I believe games are won everywhere. Everyone is responsible for their task on the pitch,” Mokotjo said.