By Michael Madyira
Bafana Bafana Cosafa Cup coach Helman Mkhalele will not make major changes to his team for Saturday’s second Cosafa Cup Group A match against Botswana.
South Africa will play the Zebras at Isaac Wolfson Stadium in Gqeberha, looking for their first win in this 2024 edition of the regional competition, following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Mozambique.
Botswana has yet to secure a victory after drawing 0-0 with Eswatini in the tournament opener.
After mentioning areas for improvement against Mozambique, Mkhalele said he believed there was no need for big changes to his team for the match against the Zebras.
“As we go into the next game, we will look first and foremost at how we can sustain the momentum that we had,” Mkhalele told the media.
“Probably 70% of the players who started against Mozambique might play again because of the match conditioning they have gained, and then gradually, we will bring in those who have not had game time.”
It is a new-look Bafana squad at Cosafa, with most players making their national team debuts against Mozambique.
Mkhalele said that changing the whole team at once and trying to allow everybody to get international experience can be suicidal.
“We want to go further in the tournament,” said the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winner.
Bafana is bidding to win the Cosafa Cup for a sixth time, aiming to go level with Zimbabwe while coming one title short of Zambia, who have won it a record seven times.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana midfielders Sinoxolo Kwayiba and Ethan Brooks track a Mozambique player.
Source: Safa
