Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has delivered a brutal assessment of their 3-1 victory over Zambia in an international friendly match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Oswin Appollis opened the scoring for South Africa in the first half before Mohau Nkota and Sphephelo Sithole weighed in with a goal each in the second stanza to defeat Chipolopolo. Substitute Joseph Sabobo’s late goal for the visitors was not enough to stage a successful comeback.
On an afternoon, Man of the Match Sipho Mbule was outstanding as he pulled the strings in midfield. It was a crucial win and morale booster for Bafana, who are preparing for the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Broos started a familiar line-up with the Orlando Pirates pair of Nkosinathi Sibisi and Mbekezeli Mbokazi as twin centre-backs. Samukelo Kabini was preferred at left-back ahead of Aubrey Modiba, while Tshepang Moremi started on the right wing, switching flanks with Pirates teammate Appollis.
At halftime, Broos took out captain Ronwen Williams, Mbokazi, half-century man Teboho Mokoena and Appollis for Sipho Chaine, Khulumani Ndamane, Thalente Mbatha and Mohau Nkota.
Evidence Makgopa and Thabang Matuludi later came on for Lyle Foster and Khuliso Mudau, respectively.
BROOS EXPLAINS HALFTIME DECISIONS, BUT IS NOT ENTIRELY PLEASED WITH BAFANA’S WIN
What appeared to be a convincing victory was, in Broos’ eyes, not a performance he had wished for.
“Today [Saturday], we would have liked to do that [firing on all cylinders] because that is the last time that we can do that. So, that’s why at halftime we changed a lot and that was not really good for the team, and it’s normal when you have to come in for new players, it’s a little bit annoying for everyone,” said Broos on SABC Sport.
“But okay, I think we didn’t play our best game today, but there were good moments, and it was the moments we did what we had to do. The forward running, the forward passes, that makes us dangerous, and that’s also where we scored.
“Yes, I think Mohau had a very good game. He was very aggressive, very quick, and also dangerous. But as I said, we didn’t do enough today; we were a little bit soft, and the tempo of the game wasn’t high enough in certain moments. But, okay, that can happen.”
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