Tau out of Uganda friendly match

JOHANNESBURG. — Bafana Bafana have been dealt a huge blow before their international friendly match against Uganda in Soweto on Thursday.

Talismanic forward Percy Tau and midfielders Teboho Mokoena and Sipho Mbule were ruled out of the match due to Covid19. The South Africans will provide the first opposition for the Warriors in the 2022 World Cup group qualifiers later this year.

Bafana take on the Cranes at Orlando Stadium at 6pm as the national team embarks on a new era under Belgian coach Hugo Broos, who was appointed last month to replace Molefi Ntseki, after SA’s failure to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.

Broos is in his home country in Belgium for Covid-19 vaccination and will sit out Bafana’s first assignment under his regime as coach. Assistant coaches Cedomir Janevski and Helman Mkhalele briefed the media in Sandton on yesterday ahead of the friendly match.

“The players who are out due to Covid19 are Percy Tau, Teboho Mokoena and Sipho Mbule who came into contact with a positive case,” the South African Football Association’s head of communications

Dominic Chimhavi confirmed.

Mkhalele said they are expecting a tough challenge from the Ugandans who will be eager not only to get one over Bafana but whose players will leave everything on the pitch to impress local scouts and hope to eventually secure contracts in the Premier Soccer League.

“We’re expecting a really tough challenge from the Ugandans.

“Not that I’m underestimating them, but for (Uganda) to beat Bafana would be a big deal for them,” said assistant coach Mkhalele.

“Their players would want to be seen and impress knowing that the PSL is one of the big leagues in Africa and they can secure contracts here.”

Meanwhile, Pitso Mosimane has told Al Ahly’s cable television station that the SA Football Association gave him a “big offer” to coach Bafana Bafana.

Mosimane, the website Kingfut. com reported on Friday, said SAFA’s offer to the Ahly coach was to take the job on a six-year contract. “The SA national team made me a six-year offer worth a very high sum,” Kingfut quoted Mosimane as having told Al Ahly TV. — TimesLive.com