(Photo by Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images)
With competition for places heating up in the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sekhukhune United midfielder Linda Mntambo has suggested an ideal midfield combination for South Africa.
Bafana head coach Hugo Broos had to show his hand as preparations for the World Cup started in earnest, with two warm-up friendlies against Panama.
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Broos did not experiment much, particularly with the starting line-up in both matches, with most positions settled, except for the centre-back pairing and combinations in attack, where Bongokuhle Hlongwane made his return after a long time not being called up.
In midfield, there was a section of supporters calling for Orlando Pirates midfielder Thalente Mbatha to get more minutes after he came on as a second-half substitute in both matches, coming only in the tail end in the second match.
However, according to Mntambo, the Teboho Mokoena-Jayden Adams partnership should have the upper hand going to the World Cup, after Sithole was dropped in the second friendly at DHL Cape Town Stadium.
“For me going to the World Cup, that central midfield, give it to Mokoena and Jayden, that combination also goes back to club level, their fluidity, synergy, cohesion, chemistry, they understand that when one goes the other one stays, it’s so beautiful to see, the body language tells you these guys are used to training and playing together,” Mntambo said on Smash Sports YouTube Channel.
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“At the national team, partnerships are important. Jayden understands the game beautifully, first of all he is press-resistant, he can help us in build-ups, he can play as an eight, in between the lines, he reminds me of Cesc Fabregas, at Arsenal I could see how good he was.
“But when he was at Spain national team, he could play as a six, as an eight, as a ten, as a false nine. Jayden whenever he’s on the ball it looks like there’s a pause (on the game), it looks like he has time, the game slows down when he has the ball. But other players don’t have that space and time,” Mntambo added.
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