South Africa Dejected during the 2022 Hollywood bets Cosafa Cup Quarter Final match between South Africa and Mozambique at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi on the 13 July 2022 © Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
I WONDER if Bafana Bafana would still be challenging for the Cosafa Cup had they turned to a couple of more PSL regulars.
Today South Africa will take on Madagascar in the Plate semi-finals of the regional tournament having been dumped out of the quarter-finals on penalties.
Their shootout defeat to Mozambique came after their attack struggled to truly test the Mambas on Wednesday night in the KZN-staged competition.
While SA usually consider the tournament as a chance to see what their player stocks look like, the side Hugo Broos’s assistant coach Helman Mkhalele put out felt a little more experimental than expected.
Only a handful of top-flight regulars started the game. And it showed.
With mostly NFD and Diski Challenge players on the park, Bafana lacked the big-match temperament to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
The central defensive pairing of SuperSport United defender Kegan Johannes and Stellenbosch’s senior international Athenkosi Mcaba looked untroubled throughout the game.
Man of the Match Selaelo Rasebotja of Matsatsantas bossed the game well alongside Maritzburg United’s Rowan Human.
But ahead of them, in the final third where the game is won, the attacking trio of wingers Thapelo Maseko, Keletso Sifama and Boitumelo Radiopane didn’t step up
And with Sifama (Kaizer Chiefs) and Radiopane (Orlando Pirates) carrying huge promise, the fact that these laaities aren’t yet competing for their clubs in the PSL, it was too big a bridge to gap.
With the pressure of defending the title SA won last season off them now, hopefully they can shine today and show their worth.