BAFANA BREAK JINX
Komphela is pleased with display against the Panthers
BAFANA Bafana caretaker coach Steve Komphela was pleased with the performance of fringe players fielded in Friday night’s 3-0 win over Gabon in a friendly at Mbombela Stadium.
It took a run-out against an under-strength Gabon to restore a measure of confidence and lift some of the gloom surrounding Bafana since the sacking of coach Pitso Mosimane a fortnight ago.
Komphela ended his two-match stint with a win, though how much can really be read into that attractive deconstruction of The Panthers is not too clear.
Gabon surprised their hosts by bringing mostly their Under-23 team who will compete in the London Olympics.
May Mahlangu won man of the match for an energetic evening in the middle of the park, where the Swedish-based midfielder’s simple, direct passing was at the root of Bafana’s forward momentum.
New players to the squad, Tokelo Rantie and Mzikayise Mashaba, coming on as a substitute for Teko Modise in midfield, scored beautifully taken goals.
South Africa did come into the game under some pressure, as they were desperate to avoid equalling their record of nine matches without a win. They also lifted themselves at the end of a gruelling league season and almost a month in camp.
“We had to remain calm and understand the circumstances,” said Komphela, who will be interviewed for the vacant full-time job this week.
“We played football that was easy on the eye. Whenever we had the ball there was lots of movement, simple passes.
“We stayed very compact in defence and would win every first and second ball.”
After a wasteful first half, where Modise and Morgan Gould missed sitters before Siphiwe Tshabalala curled in a trademark free-kick, the South Africans’ finishing improved in the second 45 minutes.
Rantie and Free State Stars midfielder Mashaba scored their first international goals in the 68th and 76th minutes respectively.
Komphela said Orlando Pirates striker Rantie ’ s bustling performance was all the more pleasing given the absence of Bafana’s most reliable scorer, Katlego Mphela, who was rested along with four other senior players after the side’s opening World Cup qualifying draws against Ethiopia and Botswana.
“Rantie uses the space behind the defenders very well,” Komphela said. “Sometimes he’s got the right levels of selfishness inside the box.”
The coach said he believes Rantie has the look of an international striker, though he needs time to develop.
“He’s got the attributes. He can finish, he chips the ball, he places it. He’s got tremendous speed, he’s explosive, he’s evasive. And these are all attributes that make you say ‘ this striker is a handful’.
“I just hope he keeps his feet on the ground, remains very humble and learns from those around him – even the influence of (Pirates teammate) Benni McCarthy.”
Komphela was pleased the side did not lose their rhythm in a second half where he made six changes.
“When you make that many changes cohesion tends to drop, but we saw very little of that, especially at the back where we took out Gould and Siyanda Xulu went in very well. Eric Mathoho as a starter brought good balance.
“The midfield of Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Mahlangu was beautiful. Thulani Serero came off the bench and gave us some guile and movement. I’m trying to count who did well and I’m counting almost everybody.”