Hugo Broos’ experimental Bafana side struggle to break down Tanzania
An experimental Bafana Bafana side failed to make an impact against Tanzania in a lackluster goalless draw at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday.
Hugo Broos, the head coach of the South African national team, used this international friendly as an opportunity to assess several players making their Bafana debuts. While the match may not have produced the desired result, Broos will have gained valuable insights ahead of the upcoming Fifa World Cup qualifiers in September.
Bafana’s Struggle
The match was a frustrating affair as Bafana Bafana struggled to break down a disciplined Tanzanian side that seemed content to sit back and defend from the outset. Despite dominating possession, South Africa found it difficult to create clear-cut opportunities against a resolute Tanzanian defense.
Three players were handed their Bafana debuts in the starting lineup. Deano Van Rooyen and Simphiwe Selepe from Orlando Pirates, as well as Khulumani Ndumane from TS Galaxy, had the chance to showcase their talent on the international stage.
Oswin Appollis, a regular for Polokwane City, was a bright spot in the first half. He came close to opening the scoring early on with a shot that was cleared off the line. However, Bafana struggled to break down the Tanzanian defense and lacked the cutting edge in the final third.
Greater Intent in the Second Half
Bafana showed more intent in the second half, with Tshepang Moremi coming close to scoring from a long-range effort that was well saved by the Tanzanian goalkeeper. Despite the increased pressure from the home side, Tanzania held firm and denied Bafana any clear opportunities to score.
As the game progressed, Broos made several substitutions to inject fresh energy into the team. Renaldo Leaner made his Bafana debut, replacing Ricardo Goss in goal. Mohau Nkota and Relebohile Mofokeng also made their debuts, but South Africa was unable to find a breakthrough in the closing stages of the match.
Overall, it was a frustrating outing for Bafana Bafana as they failed to capitalize on their dominance and break down a resilient Tanzanian side. Broos will be looking to address the team’s attacking deficiencies ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers in September.
