Da Gama ready to test his teenagers

27 March 2017 - 08:36 By Marc Strydom
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Phakamani Mahlambi and Luther Singh will get game time in Bafana Bafana's friendly international against Angola in East London tomorrow, caretaker coach Owen Da Gama has promised.

Bafana dealt with the first part of their transition phase - between the era of former coach Shakes Mashaba and the new man to be announced this week - admirably with a 3-1 win against Guinea-Bissau on Saturday in Durban.

There were tremendously encouraging returns for Kamohelo Mokotjo in midfield and Kermit Erasmus up-front at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Percy Tau made a blistering "debut" that never was a debut, scoring a gem. Tau had been fielded in the African Nations Championship aggregate qualifying defeat against Angola in 2015, though that fact somehow eluded the player.

At any rate, it was a fine start to his career for the senior team.

Mahlambi was not on the bench and Singh at one stage warmed up, but did not come on.

Da Gama promised to continue the happy feeling he has engendered in the national team, and will field the two teenagers against Angola at Buffalo City Stadium.

"It was very difficult selecting the team. You want to give players an opportunity to play, you want to get combinations," he said after the win against 80th-ranked Guinea-Bissau.

"You want to try and get to a type of soccer that suits local players, and that we believe suits us. And that is possession of the ball. I think we were very happy with the combination play. It just shows the rich talent we have got in this country.

"Yes, there were some players who played together in a competitive match for the first time. But we had to start somewhere.

"We had to really, not just play a normal friendly. It had to be a full international friendly where you could really see the full value of the players, and the different qualities.

"And then you understand how to utilise them going forward. We'll give everybody and opportunity to play, the two youngsters [Mahlambi and Singh] will play as well.

"Because I think it's important. Yes, the results are important but we must be brave enough to give the youngsters an opportunity to play. It's the only way that we can move forward."

Erasmus's 36th-minute penalty and Tau's 70th minute wonder strike put Bafana ahead. Aldair pulled one back for Guinea-Bissau in the 78th before substitute Andile Jali buried a second penalty in the 89th.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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