Reyaad Pieterse's Bafana Bafana debut in the Cosafa Cup quarterfinal win against Lesotho on penalties on Saturday started with a whimper and ended with a bang.

Pieterse began inauspiciously when he was chipped audaciously by Lesotho winger Jane Thaba-Ntso to concede an 18th-minute opening goal, though there was also not too much SuperSport United's new keeper could have done about the strike. But Pieterse, earmarked as a potential overage player for the SA under-23s at the Olympics, recovered impressively with two saves in the penalty shootout at Windhoek's Sam Nujoma Stadium, which South Africa's shadow Rio 2016 team won 4-2.

"I was hoping to get a clean sheet earning my first cap for Bafana. But it wasn't to be. I was just happy to contribute to the team's success," the 24-year-old said afterwards.

"For the two saves I had a feeling in my mind and didn't want to change it, and decided this was where it was going to go and I would go for it.

"I was fortunate enough to get down and save them.

"The last penalty shootout I had was in the Carling Black Label [for Kaizer Chiefs, which Orlando Pirates won], and I wasn't that successful. That was in the back of my mind.

"But it's not about me. I'm happy that we got victory."

Bafana have brought a team jointly led by Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba and SA U-23 coach Owen da Gama to the Cosafa Cup, consisting mostly of U-23 players in preparation for the Olympics in August.

Their win against Lesotho did not look so impressive, especially considering they will face hosts Brazil, Denmark and Iraq in the Games in six weeks.

But it was a start from the rusty South Africans, who last kicked a ball seriously when the Absa Premiership ended three weeks ago, against a team on a roll from three wins in the group stages who had match practise under their belts.

"The first half we struggled. But in the second half we came out, followed the coach's instructions and showed character," Pieterse said.