Interview
Broos open to giving fringe players a chance in AFCON warm-up
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos says the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) send-off match against Ghana is a perfect opportunity to asses fringe players in the squad.
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South Africa will host a Ghana side comprised of locally-based players at Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday (16h00), as the Black Stars failed to qualify for the continental showpiece.
With several Europe-based players not in camp yet and set to meet the squad in Morocco, Broos sees a silver lining as he can be able to evaluate the performances of fringe players.
“I think there should be a difference if everyone is here [in camp], we would play maybe with the [regular] team, and we could even make corrections if needed. But now because they are not there I think I can give opportunities to players who didn’t play so much with Bafana Bafana,” he said.
“I think for example a player like [Thabang] Matuludi. I think we can give him a chance tomorrow [Tuesday] to play with the team and to adapt a little bit at the way of playing.
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Though the Belgian mentor is keen to give players with less game time a chance in the team, he insists Bafana are not taking Ghana B lightly, stating the mandate is to emerge victorious.
“So, I said it’s a training game, not a selection game but on the other hand I want to win it. So, don’t think that we take the game for laugh tomorrow and that my players should take the game for laugh,” Broos added.
“We will play like we always play and try to win it. But again, sometimes you have to take the bad things for good and the good thing now is that because those players are not here we can give some play time to other players.
Bafana are in Group B with neighbors Zimbabwe, record seven-time African champions Egypt, and Angola, whom they kickstart their AFCON campaign against next Monday in Marrakech, Morocco.
