Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos remains positive that South Africa will qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) next year in Morocco, despite the absence of veteran Themba Zwane and striker Lyle Foster.
The national team are set for two crucial AFCON qualifier matches against Uganda away on 15 November and at home on 19 November taking on South Sudan.
Broos will go into these final two qualifying matches without seasoned midfielder Themba Zwane, who is set to be sidelined for up to six months after picking up an injury in Bafana’s game against Congo Brazzaville on 15 October.
Zwane has been replaced by Orlando Pirates midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi whose performance in the national team has received mixed reactions. Broos came out in his defence, urging that he needs to be given time to adapt to his set-up.
“I don’t think Patrick did have a good opportunity. He was always coming in the game, and it was not so easy to come in the game in Congo because we suffered, and then it’s not easy for a player who plays his first minutes with Bafana immediately to have an important role,” said Broos on Thursday.
“So, for him, it’s also a little bit hard to adapt to our way of playing on what I’m asking from him on that position. We will see in the next games, and we will evaluate but I’m still believing that he has the potential to replace Themba.
Burnley striker Lyle Foster will also miss out on the upcoming qualifiers as he is still recovering from a knee injury that he suffered in Bafana’s 5-0 thrashing of Congo on 11 October.
Burnley head coach Scott Parker said the striker is nearing a return but is still awaiting medical scans.
“You know, I’ve always had big confidence in my team, and the last two years, I think the performances are there because the confidence is there between coach and players,” continued Broos.
“I know that those guys are hungry, I know that those guys want to be again in AFCON in Morocco next year. So, they will do everything, and I know also the qualities of our group, of our team, so that means if we can have a good combination of that, of the right mentality that we always showed in the games before and our qualities then we have to qualify. That is for sure and I’m confident we are going to qualify,” Broos concluded.
Written by Siphesihle Soni