AN eerie cloud of smoke snaked across this stadium last night, no doubt from the evening fires in surrounding Phokeng, North West.
AN eerie cloud of smoke snaked across this stadium last night, no doubt from the evening fires in surrounding Phokeng, North West.
It looked like a ghost - the ghost of Bafana Bafana perhaps? A few hundred Bafana fans came to this Cosafa Cup plate semifinal against Malawi, which the South African's lost 5-4 on penalties. The SA supporters were easily outnumbered by their Malawian counterparts in the stands.
Bafana had one effort on target in the 90 goalless minutes.
Just that seed of doubt has seen Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba make one change from the penalties quarterfinal defeat against Botswana, bringing in under-20 international Motjeka Madisha for Thamsanqa Sangweni in defensive midfield.
It was a game of some effort, but less structure, from either side. Mashaba might not have had all the players he wanted - the reality is few SA coaches ever do at the Cosafa Cup.
But the other reality is what he did have just did not look that well instructed. Malawi, who had been unfortunate when losing on penalties to Mozambique in the quarters, could not find the same sprightly form against the technically superior, but uninspiring, South Africans.
l Zambia booked themselves a place in the plate final with a 3-0 win against Ghana.
Bafana lose on penalties to plucky Malawi
AN eerie cloud of smoke snaked across this stadium last night, no doubt from the evening fires in surrounding Phokeng, North West.
AN eerie cloud of smoke snaked across this stadium last night, no doubt from the evening fires in surrounding Phokeng, North West.
It looked like a ghost - the ghost of Bafana Bafana perhaps? A few hundred Bafana fans came to this Cosafa Cup plate semifinal against Malawi, which the South African's lost 5-4 on penalties. The SA supporters were easily outnumbered by their Malawian counterparts in the stands.
Bafana had one effort on target in the 90 goalless minutes.
Just that seed of doubt has seen Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba make one change from the penalties quarterfinal defeat against Botswana, bringing in under-20 international Motjeka Madisha for Thamsanqa Sangweni in defensive midfield.
It was a game of some effort, but less structure, from either side. Mashaba might not have had all the players he wanted - the reality is few SA coaches ever do at the Cosafa Cup.
But the other reality is what he did have just did not look that well instructed. Malawi, who had been unfortunate when losing on penalties to Mozambique in the quarters, could not find the same sprightly form against the technically superior, but uninspiring, South Africans.
l Zambia booked themselves a place in the plate final with a 3-0 win against Ghana.
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