AS you read this report Bafana Bafana are making their way to Morocco for the AFCON tournament.
Albeit the farewell match against Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium, on Tuesday, was subdued, the team registered 1-0 win, through a blistering shot from in-form Orlando Pirates star Sipho “Master Chef” Mbule.
Bafana did not feature its top stars such as Mbekezeli “TLB” Mbokazi, Romania-based Siyabonga Ngezana, Lyle Foster, Sphephelo Sithole and Shandre Campbell, who will only join the team on Thursday in Marrakesh.
Mbokazi who did not impress his coach Hugo Broos for reporting late, having missed his flight, did not feature on Tuesday’s game.
Both have ‘smoked piece-pipe’ resulting in Broos apologising “I’m not a racist, neither a sexist” during media brief recently.
The well-travelled, grey-haired Belgian, steered Bafana to a Bronze at the AFCON tourney held in Ivory Coast in 2024, a best record in 24 years’.
“Often a game a few days before a big tournament is not the game you want to see,” said the (73) post the match.
“I’m sure we will be ready next Monday to play Angola.”
“I am happy with the result ― it’s always better to go to Morocco with a victory than with a draw or defeat. But I think we can do much better than today (Tuesday).
“Maybe next week’s tournament was already playing in the heads of the players thinking, ‘I don’t want to be injured today.’ And also we had the new boys — it’s a big difference for them to suddenly play at that level.
“But on the other side I am not worried. I know there are a few important players joining us on Thursday and we still have four days to do the finishing touches.
Bafana open their group account against Angola on Monday 22.
Image (Top drawer goal, Sipho Mbule celebrating with teammates after scoring his first for Bafana).
