Orlando Pirates’ tactical mastermind Abdeslam Ouaddou has issued a clear message to national team coach Hugo Broos: Sipho Chaine belongs on the plane to North America. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States and Mexico looming, the race for the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper jerseys has reached a fever pitch.
Chaine, who has transformed into a cornerstone for the Buccaneers this season, is currently enjoying a historic run that has placed him at the very top of South African football.
Record-Breaking Consistency
The Bloemfontein-born shot-stopper is no longer just “in form”—he is rewriting the record books.
- Chasing Williams: Chaine recently matched Ronwen Williams’ PSL record of 18 clean sheets in a single season following a dominant performance against Stellenbosch FC.
- Club History: He has already surpassed the legendary Moeneeb Josephs to claim the Orlando Pirates record for most shutouts in a campaign.
- The Milestone Ahead: With three matches remaining, Chaine has a genuine opportunity to stand alone as the all-time PSL record holder for clean sheets.
“I really, really hope that he will be part of the national team in the US,” Ouaddou told the media. “He deserves it and he’s working hard for that.”
The Bafana Bafana Battleground
Despite his domestic dominance, Chaine has recently found himself on the periphery of the national squad. During the recent friendlies against Panama, Hugo Broos favored Ricardo Goss and Renaldo Leaner as backups to Williams.
However, the tide may be turning:
- Renaldo Leaner’s Struggle: The Sekhukhune United keeper has faced a dip in form following a difficult outing against Panama and a recent substitution during club play.
- The Petersen Threat: Kaizer Chiefs’ Brandon Petersen has entered the conversation with stellar performances in the Soweto Derby and against Sundowns, intensifying the pressure on Broos’ selection process.
- The Performance Gap: Chaine’s consistent reliability makes him a difficult candidate to ignore as the final squad deadline approaches.
