Bafana will host Benin in their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, having last played in the coastal city back in 2020 when they beat Sao Tome and Principe 2-0 in an African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

This would prove an emotional game for Sithole, who could run out onto the pitch in his home province for the first time as a professional player.

"It is going to be my first game in KZN as a professional player because I left when I was 18, so I never played in [Moses] Mabhida or [King] Zwelithini as a professional," said Sithole.

"It's going to be the first time that my Mom is going to be there to see me play as well, so I think it's a good thing. [Fans flocking to the stadium?] I don't know, probably, but I don't know if a huge amount will come, but I know some [locals] will come."

A product of the KwaZulu-Natal Academy, Sithole, who has been based in Portugal for the past six years, last played in Durban when he was still an amateur player in the Durban International tournament, with family and friends now getting an opportunity to see him play live.

"It is [special], they are happy because they've never seen me playing professionally. So, I think it is going to be their first time seeing me playing," he added.

"I hope the [locals] come in numbers because we need them to give us a boost to win the game – it's a very, very important game for us."

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