Sekhukhune United head coach Eric Tinkler is confident that he can help Lebogang Phiri rediscover his best form after giving him a Betway Premiership lifeline.
The 31-year-old midfielder has returned to South Africa following a 12-year spell in Europe, although he’d been without a club for the last six months after being released by Guingamp in June 2025.
Phiri had impressed for Brondby after leaving Bidvest Wits as a teenager in 2013 and he went on to earn six caps for Bafana Bafana, scoring in his last appearance against Sudan on 17 November 2019.
The Clever Boys youth product joined Babina Noko on a six-month contract earlier this month and made his top-flight debut as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch on Tuesday.
Asked after the game if he can bring out the best in Phiri again, Tinkler replied: “Yeah, definitely because I know the boy since he was 12 years old.
“I’ve known him; he’s a phenomenal, professional hard worker. He’s been out of the game, yes, but he looks after his body. He keeps training. So it’s more game conditioning that he needs just to get back in.
“But the talent, I know the talent. I know what he can he give us and he’ll probably be up to full speed by the time we get to the [TS] Galaxy game.”
