Mkhalele wary of Angola threat ahead of CHAN qualifiers clash

Coach Helman Mkhalele reckons Bafana Bafana will have to be wary of the threat posed by Angola ahead of the second round, first leg African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier clash.

Angola will welcome South Africa at the Estadio de 11 Novembro today. The game will kick off at 17:00 (SA time). Bafana arrived safely in Luanda on Friday night.

Mkhalele says he will persist with a cautious mindset as they aim to deliver another statement of their ambitions by qualifying for the CHAN tournament.

Bafana progressed to this final round of CHAN qualifiers after defeating Comoros 1-0 over two legs on aggregate, while Angola won 3-0 against Mauritius.

“We will be playing against a stronger side in this final and crucial round of the CHAN qualifiers.

“Most of Angola’s squad comprises players who are plying their trade in the top three teams from the Angolan League. And coming into this round, we knew that we had to bring in the kind of talent that would match what we would be up against them,” Mkhalele told SAFA media.

The man in charge went on to express his gratitude to PSL teams for allowing their players to be part of the youthful Bafana squad.

“We would like to thank all the PSL clubs who assisted us with the players for this round, given the fact that these qualifiers are taking place outside of the FIFA date,” he added.

“It is now up to us to make sure that we go out there, do our best and make our country proud. We want to qualify for the CHAN tournament, which will take place in Algeria next year. We have come here to fight for positive results, and that we will fight for.”

The return leg is scheduled to take place on 4 September at Orlando Stadium at 15:00.