Bafana not disappointed about Chan

The experience was valuable – Senong

SA National team Bafana Bafana are far from disappointed, despite failing to qualify for next year’s African Nations Championship (Chan).

So says Bafana assistant coach Thabo Senong, who was guiding the team when they lost 2-0 (4-2 on aggregate) to Zambia on Saturday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

The loss saw SA failing to qualify for the tournament, which will be hosted by Kenya, early next year.

Senong was leading the team as head coach Stuart Baxter focuses his attention on the upcoming crucial 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde in back-toback clashes.

From the start, Safa had been clear about their intentions to use Chan to give upcoming players a chance to gain international experience.

However, Senong said: “We have managed to give 35 players a chance to play at this level and to learn under these conditions,” he said.

The 37-year-old, who is also the head coach of the Under20 team, is confident that the youngsters will not get lost in the system.

“This experience will help them when they go back to their clubs and it will increase the pool of players for the seniors national teams.

“All these youngsters that have been part of these games will never be lost in the system because next year in February and March they will start their route to qualifying for Under23 Afcon, and will follow that with qualifications for the Olympics,” according to Senong.