Palacios backs Pitso's decision to recall Singh
by Sipho Mlotha · KickOffFormer Orlando Pirates coach Augusto Palacios has weighed in on the debate concerning Luther Singh's inclusion in the Bafana Bafana squad selected by Pitso Mosimane.
After a five-year absence from South African football's national setup, the 29-year-old winger was included in Mosimane's 30-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea. While Hugo Broos overlooked Singh during his tenure as Bafana Bafana head coach, the winger has re-entered the national team following impressive performances with his club, AEL Limassol, in Cyprus.
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"The responsibility rests with him"
Palacios stated that Mosimane should be permitted to select players whom he believes will contribute to winning matches — and that the buck stops with the coach if those decisions do not pay off.
"Every coach has different preferences regarding players, whether in club or national team settings. If Pitso chooses a particular player and that player fails to perform, the responsibility rests with him for the team's performance. He has the experience, having been part of the national team before; this is not unfamiliar territory for him. It is the player who has been called up who must deliver," Palacios told KickOff.
Don't dismiss the Cyprus League
He further emphasised that the league in Cyprus should not be undervalued, citing Thapelo Maseko, who scored one of South Africa's two goals at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers while playing in the same league as Singh.
"Regardless of the league in which a player competes, performance remains the key criterion for national team selection. Pitso is entitled to select any player, even from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, provided that player is performing at a high level. There is nothing wrong with that approach, as long as the player demonstrates the necessary performance," Palacios concluded.
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