South Africa manager Pitso Mosimane says Lyle Foster must demonstrate his hunger and commitment before he can be considered a guaranteed starter for the Bafana Bafana.
The 25-year-old striker has been recalled to the national team after missing the previous camp, but Mosimane believes Foster still has work to do to rediscover his best form.
Foster, who is contracted to Burnley and currently on loan at Houston Dynamo, rejoined the squad as South Africa began preparations at the Wits stadium for their upcoming matches against Kenya.
Mosimane acknowledged the forward’s ability but said Foster’s attitude would have to be judged through his efforts in training and his performances in matches.
“He is still far from his best level since leaving for the United Kingdom, but we must give him a chance to prove that he is back,” Mosimane said, according to OIL.
“I need to see his hunger to win and I can only see that in training and in matches.”
The coach also defended Foster’s record with the national side, reminding critics of the contribution he made during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign and at previous Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
“He is a very good striker; we cannot forget the goals he scored for Bafana Bafana during the World Cup qualifiers and previous AFCONs,” Mosimane said.
“But we know that in football, as in the business world, a player’s value can vary, but we must give him his chance.”
Mosimane’s comments indicate that Foster’s past achievements will not, on their own, secure him a place in the starting line-up. The striker must show that he remains capable of performing at the required level.
The manager said the same principle would apply to other players who were part of the World Cup group but were not selected for the previous camp. Among them are Tshepang Moremi and Thalente Mbatha.
“Everything is now in his hands and I simply have to remain consistent in this approach with players such as Tshepang Moremi and Thalente Mbatha, who may have been left out of the first training camp for one reason or another,” Mosimane said.
“All these players were part of the World Cup group, so we have to give them a chance if they are still at the same level, physically and mentally fit of course, because everyone who is here has talent.”
Foster now has the opportunity to make his case across the double-header against Kenya, with Mosimane making clear that selection will be based on performance rather than reputation.