Some great outings but still a lot more room to improve for Broos’ Bafana

IN the pre-Hugo Broos era, the idea of back-to-back wins, especially in World Cup qualifiers, was only a pipe dream, let alone Bafana Bafana last qualified for the global showpiece in 2002, target the 2010 qualification as default.

- MALIBONGWE MDLETSHE

For Broos to achieve this rare feat in the recent friendlies against Seirra Leone, African neighbours Eswatini and West Africans Benin, he was always going to require some bold individual performances. So, we cast the combined run-on XI when given his 14 players.

The number 14 comes from the fact that Broos made only three changes in the run-on XI against Benin, some of the starters who faced Lesotho in Polokwane: Thapelo Morena, Bathusi Aubaas, and Thalente Mbatha replacing Elias Mokwana, Jayden Adams and Teboho Mokoena.

Ronwen Williams | 6 out of 10

Two clean sheets is any goalkeeper’s ideal return. Williams, though, was rarely tested in those two matches. He was called on to make one save against Leone, who managed just one shot on target, and saved another weak header against Benin. He almost deserves no rating or a straight 10 for clean sheets.

Khuliso Mudau | 6

He was resolute in his primary task of thwarting opposition attacks and, as always, executed his forward overlaps well, especially in the second match in Abidjan, where Benin showed more aggression and commitment.

Siyabonga Ngezana | 7