Broos willing to give fringe players a chance in AFCON warm-up
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos says the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) farewell match against Ghana is a perfect opportunity to evaluate the team’s fringe players.
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South Africa will host a Ghanaian team made up of local players at the Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday (4pm), as the Black Stars failed to qualify for the continental event.
With several players based in Europe not yet in camp and set to rejoin the team in Morocco, Broos sees a silver lining as he will be able to evaluate the performance of fringe players.
“I think there should be a difference if everyone is here (in the camp), we would maybe play with the (regular) team and we could even make corrections if necessary. But now that they are not there, I think I can give opportunities to the players who didn’t play as much for Bafana Bafana,” he said.
“I think, for example, of a player like (Thabang) Matuludi. I think that tomorrow (Tuesday) we can give him the opportunity to play with the team and adapt a little to his way of playing.
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Although the Belgian mentor is willing to give players with less playing time a chance in the team, he insists that Bafana do not take Ghana B lightly, stating that the mandate is to emerge victorious.
“I said it’s a training match, not a national team match, but on the other hand I want to win it. So don’t think that tomorrow we will take the game as a laugh and that my players should take it as a laugh,” Broos added.
“We will play as always and try to win it. But, again, sometimes you have to take bad things for good and the good thing now is that since those players are not here we can give some playing time to other players.
Bafana are in Group B with neighbors Zimbabwe, seven-time African champions Egypt and Angola, against whom they will begin their AFCON campaign next Monday in Marrakech, Morocco.