POST AFCON BROOS CHARGES HAVE NO TIME TO REST
By: Tshepo Phalane
After a more than welcome bronze medal win at the Continental African Confederations Cup tournament, South Africa’s senior team faces Andorra in an international friendly match to be held in Algeria tonight.
Ranked 164th in FIFA rankings, coach Koldo Alvarez’s team is not expected to beat Bafana Bafana, who are ranked 10th in Africa and came so close to qualifying for the final in Ivory Coast, with only defender Khuliso Mudau’s misdirected volley the difference against Nigeria.
The game against Andorra also serves as preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers double header against the same Nigeria.
It’s a must win home and away game for both Bafana and Nigeria after Bafana undid all their hard work against Benin by losing to Rwanda in their two previous matches.
Coach Hugo Broos would do well to channel his frustrations against Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena’s comments that the Brazilian’s contingent, led by captain Ronwen Williams, might not make the trip as they were injured.
Mokwena on Sunday told the media that Williams, Mudau, Mothobi Mvala and Thapelo Maseko came back from AFCON with niggling injuries, and it would serve them well if they can be rested with an eye on CAF Champions League quarterfinal game against Young Africans coming up.
‘Ronza (Williams) is struggling with a shoulder and we have a very tough Champions League match. Tebza (Mokoena) is having a knee injury and has had it since AFCON. Only now are we having Mvala and Mudau back, but Maseko is still injured since AFCON,’ Mokwena told the media.
‘If they are really injured, they don’t have to tell the press, they have our numbers and can call us and give us the medical report… I don’t really like that they tell the press, respond to the no nonsense Belgian Broos…
The players eventually arrived in Algeria..
With a full contingent of players that are only missing Al Ahly striker Percy Tau, who is rested due to ‘unfair criticism of the player in the press and social media’ Bafana are likely to walk all over the European nation with 5 losses in the past 5 games.
The match will kickoff at 23:00 .
After the match against Andorra, Bafana will face Algeria on Tuesday in Algiers…
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