Bafana coach pleased with opportunities given to fringe players in the squad
Hugo Broos is satisfied with Bafana Bafana’s performance in their two friendly matches against Panama, despite a 2-1 loss last night in Cape Town.
At the packed Cape Town Stadium, Bafana left the field without a win, having created several chances to score.
Lyle Foster had multiple chances but failed to convert, while returnee striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane also missed some clear opportunities.
This contributed to Bafana’s defeat, despite defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi scoring a stunning goal. Yoel Barcenas and Jiovany Ramos scored for Panama.
“The first half was good; we had three clear chances but didn’t score, which can be crucial. In the second half, we struggled against Panama, who had more power and speed, making it hard for us to play our game,” he told SABC Sport after the match.
“I mentioned before these matches that they would serve as good tests. We understand what international football is like, and I’m glad we played Panama. We need to analyze what we didn’t do to win on Friday; Panama succeeded today.”
Broos emphasized the significance of the changes made, which will help expand Bafana’s player pool.
“The goal of these games was to evaluate some players and consider their future involvement, as well as potential changes in positions. It was an interesting game for me,” said Broos.
“It won’t make my selection process easier, but I gained insights that were important before the game.
“I think we needed to see Okon and Hlongwane today to evaluate them. You can only assess their club performances, but this is different. These two matches were valuable, and we’ll see how we move forward.”
