Mashaba defends dismal Afcon

Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba's first press conference back in the country reflected the muddled approach to the Africa Cup of Nations that cost the team progress in the Group of Death.

On the one hand Mashaba said he had wanted to win the tournament. On the other he defended his decision to play three goalkeepers as having been for experimental purposes - hardly the approach of a team trying to compete.

He said he never made an empty promise, saying he had packed his bags for six weeks - the length of time it would take to reach the final.

"There's no way a commander will say to his troops: 'We're going to be massacred'. He always says: 'Let's go and fight'," the coach said.

"After the good qualifying campaign we believed anything was possible. We wanted to win that cup. It was most unfortunate things did not go our way."

The coach could not adequately explain the use of goalkeepers Darren Keet, Jackson Mabokgwane and Brilliant Khuzwayo though.

"The three goalkeepers - it's our vision, we're building up the team. It is unlike changing infield players where you are going to disrupt the momentum of the team," he said.

"And if we bring in goalkeepers at half time you're not seeing much. So that is why we said 'let's play them individually in every game' - that was the thinking."

Mashaba admitted he had hoped the young team's lack of respect for reputations would have outweighed their inexperience.

But he remains steadfast that the policy has resulted in blooding youngsters against quality opposition, creating a team with potential for the future.

"If you watched the three games we played and still doubt the ability of our players, then there must be something wrong that we need to address as a matter of urgency."

The coach had a go at players who turned their backs on Bafana ahead of the tournament. Sweden-based May Mahlangu did not honour a call-up in November claiming he was "tired". Ajax Amsterdam forward Thulani Serero was in Johannesburg during a pre-Afcon camp in late December, but avoided Mashaba's calls to join the camp.

"Where is the patriotism? All Algeria's players ply their trade abroad, and all of them were there. It pains us when we have so much hope in certain players and they let us down."

Mashaba said for Bafana to go to the next level they needed to play as many matches as possible between now and the 2017 Afcon.

His next task is preparing Bafana for the unconfirmed home friendly against Argentina, which is set for March 28.