Bongokuhle Hlongwane outshone everyone in MLS except some guy named Lionel Messi – still left out of Bafana
Minnesota United's Bongokuhle Hlongwane has become a more rounded footballer this season, but continues to be left out of the Bafana Bafana squad.
Image: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
Hugo Broos named his Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations on Monday morning, and once again, Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s name was absent.
It’s quite a shame for a player who burst onto the international stage in Broos’ early days as Bafana coach and was regarded as one of the brightest young talents to come out of South Africa in a long time.
For someone to drop off the national radar as badly as Hlongwane has, one would expect a catastrophic drop in form or struggles with injury, but that’s not been the case.
Since moving to the United States to play for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer, Hlongwane has been one of the league’s most exciting players. He’s been a highlight reel for his club. In the 2023 Leagues Cup, he finished as the second-highest goalscorer in the competition, three goals behind some guy named Lionel Messi.
In America, he’s been praised for his work ethic, pace, and flair. He’s been very good. Unfortunately, Broos has not thought so and has continued to leave the 25-year-old out of his plans.
Broos has previously defended leaving Hlongwane out by stressing that omission does not equal rejection. He has repeatedly pointed out that Bafana now have far greater depth than when he arrived, which forces him into tougher decisions.
As he put it last year, it’s simply “a fact of choice” – insisting that even players who “deserved to be in Bafana” could miss out because he can only take so many. In his view, Hlongwane is good enough, but competition and squad balance mean someone has to fall short.
The Belgian has in the past also insisted that he preferred players who played regularly in competitive leagues. Speaking about Relebohile Mofokeng, who was last year linked with a move to Spain, Broos made his feelings known that he would love to see the youngster in Belgium or the Netherlands – competitive leagues where the pressure is not as high.
For Broos to consider selecting Hlongwane again, one would think he needs to move to a more competitive league in Europe.
Another option for the former Maritzburg United striker would be a return to the Betway Premiership, where he will be visible to South African supporters as well as the coach.
Over the years, Hlongwane has time and time again allowed his performances to do the talking. A player of his ability is too good to be kept out of the national team.
But as Broos continues to shape a squad he believes can compete on the continent and beyond, the onus now shifts squarely onto Hlongwane. Whether he chooses a return home or a leap into Europe, the next move in his career could define whether he reclaims his spot in the national setup.
What remains certain is that South Africa has not heard the last of Bongokuhle Hlongwane – and if his past resilience is anything to go by, he may yet force the door open again, on his own terms.
IOL Sport
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