Lebone Seema's Rise to Bafana Bafana: A New Defensive Star

Lebone Seema’s rise at Orlando Pirates has kicked into overdrive – and now it’s taken him all the way to Bafana Bafana.

The young defender’s form has earned him a place in Pitso Mosimane’s final squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, a call-up that feels less like a surprise and more like the natural next step of a rapid ascent.

From Orlando to Africa

On Thursday night at Orlando Stadium, Seema underlined exactly why his name is on Mosimane’s team sheet. Pirates beat Durban City 2-0, and the defender didn’t just marshal things at the back – he got on the scoresheet as well.

As the final whistle went, head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou didn’t hide his pride.

"First of all, I really congratulate him and all the other members of the team who have been called to the national team," he said, before turning his thanks to the Bafana boss. "I thank as well Pitso [Mosimane] to call him. It means that he was following his work since last season."

Then came the line that will stick with Seema for a long time.

"He's the future,’’ Ouaddou said, per Soccer Laduma.

Built, Not Born

For Ouaddou, this call-up is no bolt from the blue. He has seen the grind behind the glow.

"But I'm not surprised he's somebody that has the good mentality, professional, coachable," the Moroccan coach explained. "It's very important for me because to improve, you need to be coachable and you need to be able to understand and to listen."

That “coachable” tag has not come cheaply. Ouaddou admitted he has pushed Seema hard, sometimes to the edge.

"He starts to know me now. Sometimes I can be hard with him," he said. "Last season, I was really, really hard with him. But for his good, for his performance, we spoke a lot, we worked a lot about the quality of his passes, the alternation of short passes, long passes, the duels."

Those details – the passing range, the timing in duels, the decision-making under pressure – have quietly reshaped Seema’s game. Now they’re about to be tested on a bigger stage.

Ready for Pitso’s Demands

The next phase of his development will unfold in national colours. Ouaddou is convinced Seema’s ability to absorb information will serve him well in Mosimane’s tactically demanding environment.

"But of course, like you said, he has a lot of matches of progression," the coach noted. "I'm really, really happy. Our technical staff and the club are very happy about this call. I hope he's going to continue and to bring us this experience as well from the national team.”

South Africa face crucial AFCON qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea, and Seema walks into camp as part of a new generation entrusted to carry Mosimane’s vision. At Pirates, he has already shown he can play out from the back and cover different roles across the defensive line. That versatility makes him more than just a stopgap; he’s viewed as a long-term piece in Bafana’s defensive puzzle.

With Ouaddou vowing to keep standards high back in Mayfair, there is little danger of comfort creeping in. Every national team camp, every minute in a green and gold shirt, will be treated as another lesson to bring home.

The international break now offers Seema the stage he has been working towards – a chance to prove he belongs among the elite of South African football.

"He's the future of South Africa. We have such talent in that position in South Africa. I hope this call will give him confidence to continue to work, to grow. Again, thanks to Pitso to see his qualities," Ouaddou concluded.

The message is clear: the door is open. What Seema does with it, from here, could shape South Africa’s backline for years.