Bafana Bafana insist there's still plenty to play for in Afcon dead rubber

30 August 2016 - 16:14 By Marc Strydom

There are no easy games in international football‚ and plenty to play for against Mauritania and Egypt‚ says Bafana Bafana’s uncompromising defender Thulani Hlatshwayo. The Bidvest Wits defender – often a right-back for Bafana‚ but who seems likely to play at centre-back in Friday night’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania at Mbombela Stadium – said there is plenty to play for in the dead rubber.“There are no friendly games in the national team‚” the no-prisoners defender‚ imposingly nicknamed “Tyson”‚ said.“These two matches are important warm-ups for our World Cup qualifiers.“We have to get the result because we are playing at home. We know how South Africans are eager‚ and will be there in numbers to support us.“Unfortunately I wasn’t there in Mauritania because I was injured.“But now we have to make sure we get a result.” Bafana are out of the running to qualify for Gabon 2017 but have called up a near full-strength squad for the game against Mauritania‚ and the Nelson Mandela Challenge match against Egypt at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday‚ September 6.The matches will serve as part of Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba’s preparations for Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers‚ where South Africa meet Burkina Faso away in their first game on October 3.The Wits centreback has been in scoring form for his club‚ with two goals in two games‚ and said he will not hesitate to try to replicate that trend for national team.“They always say a good defender is a defender who defends and also scores goals. Given a chance‚ you have to take it‚” Hlatshwayo said.“Just because I have scored a few recently does not mean I am a goalscorer now.“But I was there at the right time at the set-pieces. Given the chance‚ I can score a goal.” - TMG Digital..

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