NEW HUNTING GROUND FOR MASHABA
Japan new hunting ground for Mashaba after his U23 charges win Cosafa Cup
THE Bafana Bafana shadow Olympic team that gritted out a 3-2 victory against Botswana in the Cosafa Cup final showed they are progressing with their most focused, structured performance of the tournament.
Captain Rivaldo Coetzee said the U23s gave themselves a confidence boost coming back from a goal down twice against a Botswana side that fought for every inch gained of the artificial turf at Windhoek’s Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday night.
“This is a huge confidence boost. This is the youngest team that played in this Cosafa and we won the tournament,” Coetzee said.
“I think that should say something about us as a team. It shows we’re progressing and getting better.
“From here on, I can see things just getting better for us as a team and as individuals.
“We sat down on Saturday and coach [Shakes Mashaba] told us what to expect. That we needed to defend well because Botswana were quite quick up-front,” Coetzee said.
“I’m just happy, man – we have the trophy.”
South Africa sent their U23s to the tournament as part of their preparations for the Rio Olympics in August. The team travelled to Japan yesterday for Wednesday’s friendly against that country’s U23s.
South Africa started with their strongest lineup in the final and produced a display where they kept their shape immeasurably better than in the penalties quarterfinal win against Lesotho and 5-1 thrashing of 10-man Swaziland in the semifinal.
South Africa created chances throughout the 90 minutes.
They were stunned by Onkabetse Makgantai’s brilliant 16th-minute 25-metre chip over South African goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse’s outstretched arm.
Gift Motupa equalised with a penalty after Judas Moseamedi was brought down in the 33rd minute.
Substitute Thabiso Kutumela made it 2-1 in the 63rd minute, but Pieterse allowed a Kabelo Seakanyeng freekick through three minutes later.
Motupa scored the winner from the spot in the 88th minute, after Joel Mogorosi handled in his area.
TV replays showed both penalties were legitimate, rubbishing claims by Botswana coach Peter Butler that the final was geared toward a South African victory.
Coetzee said: “After our first game, we said we can’t put ourselves under that pressure of going to penalties.
“We decided we had to make sure that if we had a chance, we would put it in the back of the net.
“And also try and make sure we did not concede. But it’s football, and sometimes you will concede.
“The main thing was we could fight back, and win the tournament.”
The Cosafa Cup was a worthy beginning in the U23s final preparations for Rio 2016.
The U23s had some tough workouts against hungry southern African opposition.
Defenders Abbubaker Mobara and Tebogo Moerane, midfielders Deolin Mekoa and Lebogang Phiri and Maphosa Modiba, and forwards Motupa, Menzi Masuku and Moseamedi showed big potential for the Olympic Games.
Add the three overage players – Itumeleng Khune, Mulomowandau Mathoho and Andile Jali – plus Keagan Dolly, Phumlani Ntshangase and Lille striker Lebogang Mothiba, and the South Africans can take a team to Rio capable of competing with group opponents Brazil, Denmark and Iraq.