Bafana Bafana's preparations for Africa Cup of Nations have reached advanced stages and ahead of their opener next Tuesday, KickOff looks at five factors that Hugo Broos has to address to get the best out of the team.
Goals
With Lyle Foster and Lebogang Mothiba not in the squad, there is a big concern on where the goals for Bafana will come from.
"My concern is where the goals are gonna come from," renowned agent Mike Mikaab concurred on his slot as co-host of Gagasi FM's Extra-Time.
"That's my concern but having said that, if (Zakhele) Lepasa strikes his early season form, if Percy Tau contributes, if Evidence Makgopa utilizes this platform to showcase himself, a young Benni McCarthy did it many years ago, then we could be in for a pleasant surprise," he said.
Over-reliance on Zwane?
Themba Zwane is one of the players the nation will rely on for creativity and to carry the team in attack but he's 34.
"I think Themba is a massively talented player, he's done incredibly well at Mamelodi Sundowns (but) he's not getting any younger that's my concern and one always has to manage that side of the game, of the player," Makaab said.
"But he's a vital cog, I believe in Bafana's chances and it will be interesting to see how Hugo Broos plays Themba and Percy, because they're pretty similar types of players."
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Experience
Bafana did not qualify for the 2021 Afcon and only three players have survived from the team that reached the quarter-finals in 2019, namely, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane and Percy Tau.
That means the majority of the players will be at Afcon for the first time and that could be one of the challenges.
Defence
Bafana's defence has no player playing abroad and that could be a concern and also Mothobi Mvala, whom Broos described as "very important" is a doubt to travel with the squad with a groin injury.
"You've got to find the balance right between attack-minded players and players who can defend. It's all very well having great players on the ball but you've also got to have a defence that is capable of defending when you're under pressure," Makaab chipped in.
"Because there are bound to be times in a game when you're playing against top African countries. There are bound to be times when you've got to suck up the pressure, we then need warriors and gladiators to do that."
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Variety
Bafana are revered for their movement and skill on the ball but they can't rely on only one way of playing in a tournament.
Hugo Broos had included France-based striker Lebogang Mothiba to give the team a different dimension, if they needed to play long balls and crosses in certain moments of the game but unfortunately he's out injured.
In the current squad, none of the strikers are adept in the aerial game and although Evidence Makgopa comes close and also has attributes to hold up play, a striker such as Mothiba playing in Ligue 1 or in Europe brings extra quality and a different dimension.
