admintomorrow evening, without nine of their regular players who featured in the Nelson Mandela Challenge against Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday.
South Africa managed a 1-1 draw against Africa’s highest ranked team at Nelson Mandela Bay and coach Pitso Mosimane decided to rest the foreign-based and some key local players who held the Elephants.
Mosimane dropped his captain and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Steven Pienaar and the foreign contingent of Crystal Palace midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, Getafe defender Tsepo Masilela, Belgium-based defensive duo of Racing Genk’s Anele Ngconga and Siboniso Gaxa of Lierse.
There was also no place for Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela who scored Bafana’s equaliser on Saturday with a trademark free kick in the second half after Cote d’Ivoire had got the opener in the first half through an own goal by defender Gaxa.
The Kaizer Chiefs midfield duo of Siphiwe Tshabalala and Reneilwe Letsholonyane, together with Orlando Pirates Siyabonga Sangweni were also rested.
Coach Mosimane said he decided to rest most of the senior players after they worked tirelessly in the tough match against the Elephants and is using the opportunity to try a number of young players.
“It is a friendly game we had arranged. We played one at home and now we are playing away. They are two different games and we want to give other players a chance because you cannot play two strong teams inside three days.
“We still have players like Morgan (Gould) and Teko (Modise) in this team who played at the Confederations Cup and World Cup respectively. We also brought some young players as we are rebuilding for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify and I think Zimbabwe is also trying other combinations,’ said Mosimane.
The former SuperSport mentor said his side is not weak as the players who warmed the bench on Saturday would also want to to prove a point.
“When you bring players who didn’t play they would want to take up the opportunity and they must impress me as well.
“It is even better bringing these players because the play of the senior players was going to be different here because they would say we managed to hold the number one team in Africa,” said Mosimane.
Bafana Bafana coach said they are expecting a good game from the hosts.
“We respect Zimbabwe, they are always strong when playing against us.
“It is one team I am surprised didn’t reach the Afcon finals. They have good players in our league, with Musona the top goal scorer last season and Khama Billiart is also a fantastic player. We know what they can do and the players know each other but that doesn’t mean we know their strategy,” said Mosimane.
However, the experienced trio of goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs, Belgium-based midfielder Dayton Claasen and SuperSport defender Morgan Gould – who started in the Challenge match on Saturday – made the short trip and are likely to start again tomorrow.
In the absence of chief striker Mphela, the gaffer is likely to use the pair of Jomo Cosmos forward Siyabonga Nontshinga, who came in as a substitute against the Elephants earning his first senior cap, and SuperSport’s Kermit Erasmus.
Kaizer Chiefs’ young midfielder George Lebese – who also played his first match for Bafana on Saturday – George Maluleka, Pirates’ Oupa Manyisa and Thanduyise Khuboni, who all came as second half substitutes against the West Africans, are also expected to start against the Warriors.
Mamelodi Sundowns left back Punch Masenamela, Bradley Grobler, and Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele are also expected to have a run in tomorrow’s match.
Mosimane who was impressed by his charges display against the highly ranked Cote D’ Ivoire is confident that South Africa will have another good showing against a strong Warriors squad which is expected to have all its foreign based players.
The Warriors were expected to troop into camp last night four hours after their opponents had arrived.
Warriors manager Shariff Mussa said he would be in a better position to comment on the players available after everyone had reported for camp last night.
“Everyone is expected to arrive by 9pm tonight (yesterday) and then we will have a meeting and then we would be in a position to know who has or hasn’t reported for camp,” said Mussa.
The bulk of the Zimbabwean players ply their trade in South Africa.
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Nyasha Mushekwi and Moroka Swallows defender Gilbert Mapemba, were already in the country and, yesterday afternoon, watched former team CAPS United beat Shooting Stars.
Online Reporter