Broos Hopes for Sundowns-Mudau Resolution

TIYANI WA KA MABASA|August 29, 2025

HOPEFUL: Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is hopeful that Khuliso Mudau will resolve his dispute with Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: SAFA

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has shared details of a meeting where he knocked some sense into Khuliso Mudau’s head.

Mudau, who is arguably the best right-back in Africa, has been at loggerheads with his employers, Mamelodi Sundowns, and only returned to training this week.

Unfortunately, the 30-year-old did not make the Bafana Bafana team to play FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month against Lesotho and Nigeria on 5 and 9 September, respectively.

“First of all, I made contact with the club to see what the situation really is, and then I asked the club if I can help; if I can, I should help to solve the problem,” said Broos.

“So I got the agreement of the coach of Sundowns for me to have a meeting with Khuliso, and I had that meeting with Khuliso, and I told him that he was right in some things, but he was not right in other things, like, for example, not going to training.”

Capped 24 times by Bafana Bafana, Mudau’s absence from the national team is a major blow, but Broos’ hands were tied because the former has not played this season.

“You don’t solve a problem by not going to training, even if there is a disagreement between you and the club—this is an obligation of the player, and if he doesn’t play, it’s something else,” continued Broos.

“You can say, ‘I won’t play until the problem is solved,’ but you have to go to training. So I think Khuliso is training now again, and I really hope that, as soon as possible, the problem is solved.

“Because Khuliso is the best right-back in this country and one of the best right-backs in Africa, so it’s difficult for me to not have him in my team. So therefore, again, I think it’s a duty for the Bafana Bafana coach to also help to solve a problem like that.”

Mudau’s clash with Sundowns relates to contractual matters and the club not entertaining any offers for him.

Sundowns took their one-year option to extend to June 2026, but Mudau is reportedly eyeing a new, improved deal or for the club to agree to a transfer, and after months of talks, the two parties reached a deadlock.