Opponet watch: South Africa coach Mashaba has few things to work on
Despite their seemingly complete performance against Mali in an international friendly in Gabon on Wednesday, Bafana Bafana head coach Shakes Mashaba insists his team still have a few things to work on before they kick-off their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations charge against Algeria in Mongomo on Monday.
Goals from Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Dean Furman secured a convincing 3-0 win for South Africa, their first ever win over their West African counterparts.
Mashaba was happy with the way his troops stuck to the game plan against the Eagles, a side that finished third in the last two Africa Cup of Nations finals.
"We are so happy that the boys stuck to our game plan," Mashaba said in the aftermath.
"The plan was not to allow them to go forward, lets make them play at the back and when we catch them we will get them on the break most of the times.
"Secondly we played as a unit, we know they have a couple of good players with most of their players playing abroad. Fortunately today we were the ones that scored the early goal and that made our lives easy."
Andlie Jali donned the captain's armband for the day and Mashaba explained that their vision of grooming a bunch of leaders within the group is still on course.
"I would say he [Jali] played very well. This is in line with what we are doing. We are in line with our technical master plan where we want to develop leaders. If you look at the change at the captain the whole time more players will come in and show us what they are made of.
"It is not only about playing but about leadership as well, what can you do better on the field of play."
Mashaba added that there are some technical issues they still have to address before they meet the Fennec Foxes in their opening Group C clash.
"We are ready as such, most unfortunately we have to work on some technical issues like what to do when we lose the ball. Yes we did well today in terms of gaining position but we are still allowing them to play," Mashaba continued.
"The good thing we allowed them to play in front us."
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