Chance for fringe players to shine
Chiefs starters, with only defenders Patrick Phungwayo and Ntsikelelo Nyauza being the regular starters from the Orlando Pirates to join the team.
The Soweto giants have the small matter of next Saturday’s Derby to prepare for and the last thing they need is to have walking wounded from an international that falls outside of the window.
Players like Fagrie Lakay and David Zulu who have been shadowing the respective Bafana squads without getting game time, now have the chance to impress Mashaba despite the calibre of their West African opposition.
Somehow, Mashaba has been able to extract magical performances from his teams, which have been threadbare on experience. Even though they have been shown to be wetbehind-the-ears, they have made up for their relative youthfulness with passionate and tactically astute performances.
While Mashaba is a man of surprises, it would do no harm if he would partner Puleng Tlolane and Zulu upfront.
He has shied away from fielding two out-and-out strikers but since he has been robbed of his crucial midfield diamond that has brought him his early success, playing two target men will give a glimpse of Mashaba’s tactical adaptability.
Zulu and Tlolane have scored a combined 12 Premier Soccer League goals, but international football is a different kettle of fish.
VIf there is one headache Mashaba may have, it is the composition of his midfield, especially in the light of Mamelodi Sundowns’ helping hand with their releasing of Asavela Mbekile, Bongani Zungu and Themba Zwane.
With the likes of Lakay, Abbubaker Mobara, Thami Sangweni
The goalkeeping department itself is also a lottery with Brandon Petersen and Dumisani Msibi being the second choices at their clubs. However, Jackson Mabokgwane has come on in leaps and bounds this season with Black Aces. Then again, who knows with Mashaba?