By Phenyo Selinda
Coach Helman Mkhalele’s youthful South African men’s national team delivered a strong performance against Eswatini at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, securing a 1-0 victory. Despite this win, they did not advance to the semifinals of the COSAFA Cup.
Match Highlights
Under the guidance of Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, the team triumphed over Eswatini thanks to an early goal by Thabang Sibanyoni in the third minute. However, their journey ended in the group stage as they finished second in Group A with five points, trailing behind leaders Mozambique. According to the tournament rules, only the three group winners and the best-placed second team progress to the semifinals.
Developmental Focus
The primary goal of participating in the regional tournament was to broaden the pool of players and further the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) long-term vision. Coach Mkhalele expressed pride in his players’ performance and the lessons learned throughout the competition. “I am proud of the effort, the character, and the humility of these boys. I’m really proud of them,” he said after the match.
Learning and Growth
Mkhalele highlighted the valuable experiences gained from the matches against Mozambique, Botswana, and Eswatini. “I would say as the technical staff, I am quite happy with some of the boys that I have seen here, that I believe raised their hands in the three games in terms of getting closer to the senior Bafana Bafana team that plays in the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,” he added. Mkhalele believes the tournament was crucial in identifying players capable of stepping up to the senior team under head coach Hugo Broos.
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