Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is nursing a big headache after his side was drowned in the Butare swimming pool by a determined Rwanda on Tuesday.
Following incessant rain, Bafana were sunk 2-0 on a water-logged pitch at the Huye Stadium, forfeiting their spot at the summit of Group C to Rwanda.
Now with preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in January next on Broos’ diary, the Belgian is facing another dilemma, that of having all his players available for pre-camp.
The Premier Soccer League (PSL) has scheduled fixtures right up to December 31, with the Afcon penciled to start 13 days later on January 13.
The PSL will play its matches throughout the Christmas period and around the New Year’s festivities, something rare in South African football.
This means Broos will have to finalise his final squad around December and then fine-tune his charges two weeks before the tournament gets under way.
The coach will be hoping that none of his best players suffer injuries and that the likes of Lyle Foster are back on the field playing for their clubs again.
Three-hour travel from airport
About the embarrassing loss to Rwanda, Broos will want to forget about it, so that he quickly shifts the focus to the Afcon in Ivory Coast.
“It’s not normal to arrive in a country and then travel three hours in a bus before you’re at the final destination,” he said after the World Cup qualifier.
“I will not say it’s the reason we lost the game, not at all, but I think those things have to change, we’re in 2023.
“We’re talking about professional football and this pitch is not professional. You don’t let an opponent travel three hours from an airport for their destination, this is only my remark, nothing to do with the defeat.”
Rwanda took the lead in the 12th minute through Innocent Nshuti’s low shot that took the visitors’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams by surprise.
After the goal, the home side looked more galvanised and continued to apply pressure.
Gilbert Mugisha netted the second goal in the 28th minute when he took advantage of the confusion between Khuliso Mudau and Williams.
Bafana exerted pressure towards the end of the match but the hosts’ rearguard stood firm to secure a famous victory.
