Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane believes Puso Dithejane can cope with the demanding journey from the United States to South Africa during the international window.
Dithejane, who plays his club football in Major League Soccer, faces a lengthy trip whenever he joins up with the national team.
However, Mosimane believes the attacker’s age works in his favour and should help him recover quickly enough to be ready for international duty.
Mosimane confident Dithejane can recover
International football can present significant physical challenges for players based overseas, particularly when long-distance travel is followed by training and competitive matches.
For Dithejane, the journey between the USA and South Africa adds another challenge to his national-team commitments.
Mosimane, however, is not overly concerned about the travel demands.
The Bafana coach believes Dithejane’s youth gives him an advantage when it comes to recovering from the effects of travelling across continents.
Dithejane looking to establish himself
Dithejane is also attempting to make his mark in the Bafana Bafana setup as Mosimane begins his second spell as national-team coach.
The attacker has already attracted attention from the coach for his energy and willingness to work hard, although Mosimane has previously stressed that players must earn their opportunities in the national team.
His ability to handle the physical demands of international duty could therefore be important as he looks to establish himself as a regular option for Bafana.
USA move adds another dimension
Playing in MLS means Dithejane must regularly manage the demands of long-distance travel when international commitments arise.
For Mosimane, though, the player’s age provides confidence that he can handle the schedule and recover in time to contribute on the pitch.
As Bafana Bafana continue their campaign, Dithejane will be hoping to turn that confidence from his coach into opportunities and performances for the national side.
