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Coach Ntseki says they are fully focused on today’s game after loss to Black Stars
Ideally, Bafana Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki had hoped to start the 2021 Afcon qualifiers on a positive note, but says the defeat to Ghana midweek is still a good lesson to build on.
South Africa host Sudan at Orlando Stadium in Soweto this afternoon while still reeling from a 2-0 mauling by the Black Stars away on Thursday.
Asked about the impact the setback at Ghana’s Cape Coast had on his plans around the qualifying campaign, Ntseki said: “It does happen in the game of football and we might be pointing fingers, but it’s not going to help. As professionals, we are over the loss. The most important match is not the last one we played, but the next one we have to play against Sudan.
“We went to Ghana with confidence, but with respect and being realistic to say that, if it doesn’t happen, we had better come back with a draw.
“Unfortunately, we ended up conceding the two goals and this is more of a lesson to us going into the next match because of how we conceded,” the coach told City Press on the sidelines of the pre-match conference in Rosebank, Johannesburg, yesterday.
Looking ahead to the game against Sudan, Ntseki warned against underestimating their opponents.
The north-east African nation assumed the early lead of Group C following their 4-0 demolition of São Tomé and Príncipe in Khartoum on Wednesday, while Ghana are placed second because of an inferior goal difference.
“Sudan are very positive about themselves because they scored four goals at home. The thinking will be that we are down and worried because of the loss [against Ghana],” said Ntseki.
“So you can’t take the excitement away from Sudan, but, at the same time, it is up to us to reverse our disappointment into success.”
Even striker Lebogang Mothiba was positive that there would be a turnaround.
“We don’t have pressure. We must just play our football because the coach is also doing well at training and analysing [our opponents]. I have the confidence that we are going to do it,” said the France-based striker who came in as a late substitute against Ghana.
Ntseki (50), meanwhile, hinted at changes, but, at the same time, reassured everyone that he’d keep the spine of his team from the midweek match intact.
“We will make changes based on the freshness that we want to bring into the team. We need to be careful in terms of periodisation and recovery after the travelling and fatigue, as well be considerate to those who played 90 minutes against Ghana.
“But we are not going to make changes to end up not having the structure we want. The new players coming in also need to be protected in terms of what we want to achieve.”
Against the Black Stars, Ntseki had the regular rearguard of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, defenders Thulani Hlatshwayo and Buhle Mkhwanazi.
The midfield had Bongani Zungu as the key man, but his knee injury less than 30 minutes into the game on Thursday upset the game plan.
Zungu was one of a few players – alongside fullback Thami Mkhize and Thapelo Morena – who were expected to go for a late fitness test at the time of going to print last night.
Team doctor Thulani Ngwenya also highlighted the challenges and the price the players pay while preparing in a tight schedule for back-to-back fixtures in a space of four days.
The team returned on Friday afternoon and only went through a recuperation session in the pool yesterday morning before a 45-minute training session at Orlando Stadium later in the day.
Ngwenya confirmed that midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo would be available for selection.
The 28-year-old England-based midfielder was left out of the match-day squad against Ghana on the advice of the medical team and conditioning coach Kabelo Rangoaga.
“Kamo played six matches in three weeks and all 90 minutes. He travelled and arrived the day before the Ghana match. He was really fatigued and, after assessment, the medical team advised him to rest,” said Ngwenya.
The game kicks off at 3pm.
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