A former Bafana Bafana head coach wants SAFA and Hugo Broos to be commended for securing the two friendlies against Mozambique and Angola.
On Thursday South Africa beat Mozambique 2-1 before playing to a one-all draw with Angola on Sunday.
Both matches were played in Mbombela.
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"People should understand something, all over the world the country who qualified and the country who didn't qualify play a friendly," Augusto Palacios tells KickOff.
"My first country Peru last week played a friendly against Bolivia, using only local players.
"This means every game that is played by the national team is good.
"It's good because it enables the coach to see who is good to play for the national team again.
"Because some players can't play at that level due to pressure.
"The two friendlies helped the coach and Helman Mkhalele to observe who can play for the national team.
"It helps them to know whom they are calling again or not.
"They achieved knowing which players to call back after the World Cup.
"Angola was a very difficult opponent you know. I think some of the new faces were very good, remember it's very difficult to handle the pressure of wearing the Bafana Bafana shirt.
"So, the opponents were okay, it's not easy to find opponents this time you know, Egypt played Belgium, and Egypt are not even in the World Cup, and Egypt beat Belgium 2-1.
"So, for me it was very good for the national team to secure the two friendlies, very good."
Palacios also touched on those players who had to be withdrawn from the Bafana squad because of injuries.
"If they are injured there's nothing you can do, you can't force because it's the FIFA rule."
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