SHAKES OPTIIMIISTIIC AFTER CHAN WIIN
BAFANA Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba praised his players for showing character with a credible display to earn a 3-0 first-leg advantage in their African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier against Mauritius, despite preparations being hit by withdrawals.
A makeshift Bafana, who had one training session on Friday evening after their squad was decimated by withdrawals from Premier Soccer League clubs, still managed to outclass Mauritius.
A brace from Siphelele Ntshangase and a goal from Thamsanqa Gabuza, all in the first half, earned the home team a three-goal advantage to take to the second leg in Mauritius in two weeks.
Mashaba said Bafana did well to break down the defensive islanders.
“It ’ s difficult to play against teams who play negatively. It ’ s a modern trend that when you play away it ’ s better than at home. Away it ’ s an open game – at home teams come sometimes with a negative approach,” Mashaba said. “We created 14 chances. The three goals we scored for now are enough. They will give us that courage we need going to Mauritius.
“The boys did very well, especially since some only arrived two days before the game. This is further proof of how much depth of talent we have in the country.
“To select a team on the eve of the game and play this well, it tells us a lot. It ’ s only that maybe there are a few things we need to sort out as a country.”
Perhaps most pleasing for Mashaba would have been the combination between Ntshangase and Gabuza, who showed a good understanding and played a hand in each other ’ s goals.
Orlando Pirates striker Gabuza hassled the Mauritius back-four and scored a second international goal to add to a strike in Tuesday ’ s 2-1 friendly win against Angola in Cape Town.
Black Leopards prospect, Ntshangase, showed good skills at playmaker.
Mashaba ’ s squad was hit by withdrawals after the coach went back on an agreement to field fringe players in the Chan qualifier.
The coach tried to retain the local-based players from his squad that faced Gambia and Angola but this did not please PSL clubs, who wanted their players to be rested in the offseason.