Depleted Bafana to face Zambia

want to score more goals this season. I’m focused on that and I will continue to work hard to strive to achieve my aims.” WHILE the domestic season gets underway with the MTN8 this weekend, East London will host a low key international between Bafana Bafana and Zambia in the first leg of the African Nations Championships (CHAN) qualifier.

It’s a match that has invited contrasting reactions from the two coaches in South Africa’s Stuart Baxter and Zambia’s Wedson Nyirenda – the former making it clear it’s a game he would have rather delegated to his assistant while he focused on an upcoming World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde, while the latter has revenge on his mind after Bafana knocked out Zambia in a qualifier for this very tournament in 2011.

Baxter has also had to beg for players, which has made his preparation for this match a nuisance.

Nyireda on the other hand has been able to assemble pretty much the same side that surprisingly beat Bafana 2-1 in a friendly match in Phokeng two months ago.

“I except a tough game,” said the Bafana coach. “But I’ve got to be comfortable because this is the reality and we have the players we’ve got. Some of them we know a lot better than others.

“We have got to turn this into a unit that can go on and win the game.

“Zambia is a strong team and we are going to have our hands full – even on our own patch.”