Win was special for Ntseki
BAFANA COACH: THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Molefi Ntseki hailed a “special” moment after guiding Bafana Bafana to victory in the Nelson Mandela Challenge on Sunday, with a 2-1 win over Mali in his first game as head coach of the senior national team.
Ntseki has had plenty of experience on the bench for South Africa, with the Under-17 side, the Under-20 side, and as an assistant coach to Shakes Mashaba, Owen da Gama and Stuart Baxter. But this was the first time in the top coaching job in South Africa.
“This was a special one. When you are playing against Mali, and honouring an icon like Mandela, playing your first game as senior team coach …. it came with some butterflies, but it was good butterflies, it kept us floating and we ended up winning the match,” said Ntseki, who also praised former Bafana coach Trott Moloto, on board now as a technical advisor.
“This is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime,” added Ntseki.
“Trott Moloto was here telling be about his first match and what it was like, so it was not difficult, and I was not worried about losing and getting negative comments, because I had him with me sharing his experience. Fortunately he didn’t lose his first match, and was the first coach to win against Sweden, in the Mandela Challenge. It was a very good choice to bring someone like him to work with me and the rest of the guys.”
Ntseki’s team played with plenty of verve against Mali, and gelled well for his first game in charge, though he was at pains to point out that he had already worked a lot with the group of players he selected.
“It is not only a couple of days spent with the players, I have been profiling them for almost two years working with different coaches. With Stuart (Baxter) I had to profile players and make a presentation on them, so I have known them for some time, their qualities and the areas they need to improve. We were fully aware of what these players were bringing, their combination of skill, character and physical ability.
“The next selection will be based on who is available, injuryfree and on top of their game. We will do the same profiling in relation to Ghana.”
Bafana’s next match is their opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Black Stars away from home next month, to be followed a week or so later by a home qualifier against Sudan.