BROOS WANTS MORE
Coach says Bafana ‘didn’t play their game’ in win over Zambia
SCORED FIRST: Oswin Appollis finished move
Image: Backpagepix
BAFANA Bafana set the tone for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Zambia in an international friendly at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Bafana, ranked 87th in the world, asserted themselves from the eerste whistle against 59th-ranked neighbours Zambia.
Midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who was celebrating his 50th cap, showed some mooi touches in the build-up of attacks, and a feed from deep nearly produced a goal.
There were several instances of deft off-the-ball play by Bafana, who were punching holes in Chipolopolo’s defence.
This ploy led to the opening goal in the 43rd minute, when midfielder Sphephelo Sithole bisected the opposition defence, and livewire Oswin Appollis ran in to capitalise on the defence-splitting pass and score.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos made three changes at the start of the second half, Appollis, Mokoena and captain Ronwen Williams made way for goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, Mohau Nkota and Thalente Mbatha.
Later, Broos made another change, with Khulumani Ndamane replacing Mbekezeli Mbokazi.
In early second-half play, Zambia’s 4-1-4-1 formation seemed far more effective, as they surprised Bafana with three entries into the penalty area in the opening nine minutes.
Once Bafana, with their 4-2-3-1 playing pattern, absorbed that pressure, Zambia were rudely surprised with a break down the right flank after Sipho Mbule hoofed the ball upfield.
Substitute Nkota latched on to the ball superbly before unleashing a warme shot from the edge of the box in the 62nd minute to score.
Supporters were hardly back in their seats when Sithole scored in the 68th minute as he was unchallenged when rising to meet a corner moments later to give Bafana a commanding 3-0 lead.
Zambia scored a consolation goal through Joseph Sabobo in the 92nd minute.
Of his team’s performance, Broos wysed: “We didn’t play our game today [Saturday]. There were good moments, moments when we did what we had to do – the forward passes that made us dangerous and that’s how we scored.”