Bafana still trying to get the balance right
JOHANNESBURG: With the nation only relying on Stuart Baxter’s assessment of the new-look Bafana Bafana outfit at the Four Nations tournament in Ndola, Zambia, the coach expressed delight at how the young players bounced back from a nervy start to win their opener against Angola on penalties.
A television blackout, meaning no broadcaster has secured rights to beam the competition, which also includes Zambia and Zimbabwe, left supporters scrambling for updates on social media and following the Bafana twitter account for live updates of their match against Angola on Wednesday, one that finished 1-1 in normal time and won by South Africa 6-5 on penalties.
Bafana will face the host nation tomorrow night after they too won via the lottery of spot-kicks against Zimbabwe.
The Bafana account had actually pronounced their win as 7-6 on penalties and made the correction later, opening itself up for sarcastic remarks questioning its reliability on updates.
“I thought it was noticeable that they (the young players) were nervous. I think all of them made simple mistakes, but when they settled, I think all of them equipped themselves very nicely,” said Baxter, who picked a squad with an average age of 25 two weeks ago heading into this Four Nations tourney.
The coach is looking for a fresh start following the failure to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Russia.
“It’s all relative,” he continued. “This is the first taste (of international football) for many of them and I think they faced a difficult opponent and for them it was a big game.”
Angola broke the deadlock some 30 minutes into the match (according to the Bafana twitter account) through Djalma Campos before striker Lebo Mothiba, on debut for the national team, equalised five minutes into the second half.
It was a completely new back four and Dean Furman, Bongani Zungu as well as Themba Zwane were the only Bafana regulars on the pitch.
“Angola were better much earlier on. We were nervous,” said Baxter.
“I thought we settled down, especially the younger players for 20 minutes or so. We had already started to adapt and manage the game better going into the second half. There was one structural thing – the way we were pressing. We had one less midfielder with the way we were pressing. So we changed that at half-time and we changed our possession.
“We looked to find mistakes behind the fullbacks instead of finding it in front of the fullbacks. Their goal was unfortunate, the player (Campos) took it very well. I thought we were good in the second half – controlled the ball better and obviously BackpagePix penalties can go either way. But I am very happy to go through.”
Baxter will ring the changes in tomorrow’s final against the hosts, whose attack is led by Orlando Pirates’ Justin Shonga and Augustine Mulenga.
“The team that will play in the final will be completely different. We need this game and we are still looking for the balance between winning and learning.”