Orlando Pirates star Kamogelo Sebelebele looking to transfer club form to Bafana Bafana ahead of World Cup qualifiers

Kamogelo Sebelebele wants to repay the faith Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has shown in him by helping the team take a step closer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bafana are currently in camp as they prepare to face neighbours Lesotho and arch-rivals Nigeria in back-to-back qualifiers at the Free State on Friday and Tuesday, respectively. Wins in both matches would go a long way in helping Bafana reach the promised land – the World Cup finals.

At the moment, Broos’ men are top of Group C with 13 points, five ahead of second-placed Rwanda. However, uncertainty hangs over their lead after the team fielded Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible to play due to being on two yellow cards, in the first-leg game against Lesotho.

Should FIFA decide to sanction Bafana, they’ll likely be docked three points, with Likuena awarded a 3-0 win. Broos, though, is disappointed that it’s Nigeria and Benin who are pushing for Bafana to be punished.

Still, Broos has enough confidence in his troops to believe they can secure maximum points in the next two qualifiers – a vital boost to their qualification chances.

Despite that confidence, Broos must achieve the feat with a relatively makeshift squad, as several regulars are unavailable due to injuries and poor form. However, players like Sebelebele are in form at the moment and eager to seize their opportunity with both hands.

“I am happy and excited to be here. I have been given an opportunity to represent my country, so I am looking forward to helping the team qualify for the World Cup,” Sebelebele explained.

The 23-year-old has been in dazzling form for his new club, Orlando Pirates, scoring three goals in seven matches across all competitions since arriving from TS Galaxy. He admits that his life has changed drastically since joining the Buccaneers, which is why he’s ready to showcase his talent on the biggest stage.

“A lot has changed,” Sebelebele acknowledged. “The support I am getting is boosting my confidence. I am ready to show people what I have to offer.

“When you play for the so-called ‘small teams’, people don’t recognise you. But now that I am playing for Orlando Pirates, people can see my talent.”

Sebelebele may have earned his first official call-up under Broos, but he’s no stranger to the setup, having been part of the team that reached the Cosafa Cup final in June before losing to Angola.

He believes they did well in Bloemfontein, where they’ll coincidentally be based for this month’s two qualifiers.

“We did well there. We gave our best, but unfortunately, we lost in the final,” Sebelebele said.

While spirits are high in camp ahead of the two crucial matches, Sebelebele knows they’ll have to do their talking on the pitch. That’s why he has emphasised what the team needs to focus on to deliver when it matters.

“We have to be consistent in what we are doing, keep pushing and working harder,” Sebelebele said.

Bafana will arrive in Bloemfontein on Thursday after Broos opted to train in Johannesburg due to inadequate facilities in the City of Roses. The silver-haired Belgian will hope that won’t disrupt their rhythm, as extra time to settle into the city would have aided their preparation.