Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says he was left impressed with how some of the new players and youngsters showed up against Tanzania, and hopes to see them play again in the future.
Bafana played to a rather dull goalless draw against Taifa Stars. This was during their international friendly match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on a chilly Friday night.
In the absence of Mamelodi Sundowns players who usually make up the core of the Bafana squad, Broos named a totally different side with many new faces getting their first call-ups to the senior team.
Many new faces
Fawaaz Basadien captained the side, while Ricardo Goss started in goal for Bafana. Deano van Rooyen, Kulumane Ndamane, Simphiwe Selepe, Tshepang Moremi, Renaldo Leaner, Mohau Nkota, and Ashley Cupido were all handed their official debuts for the senior side by Broos.
Broos said that he was impressed with how the new players carried themselves, especially the younger ones. This despite them squandering many goal-scoring opportunities and dominating Tanzania throughout the match.
“After every game, we give jerseys to players who were earning their first cap. And we gave about eight after this match,” Broos said after the game.
“And that means we had a new team with players who never played together in the national team before. For sure, we wanted to win, and we could have won because we had some chances. But I as said it before: the game result is not important.
Happy with performance
“The performance was more important, and a positive for me, so I am happy with what I saw.”
Bafana will be back in action at the same venue, the Peter Mokaba Stadium. They host Mozambique there next Tuesday, and Broos says he expects his side to do better. He expects them to walk away with a win.
“I hope again to see the same thing next Tuesday, and to win. Because this is something, [you] have a better feeling when you win a game,” he added.
