National Sports

Bafana Bafana coach hails Flames

South Africa’s national soccer team coach Gordon Igesund has said the Flames gave his side a good test when they met in an international friendly match on Saturday in Durban.

Bafana Bafana won the match 3-1 but Igesund said the Flames gave his charges a good run.

“I must also say well done to Malawi, they played hard, they made it very difficult for us. It was a tough game, but I’m quite happy where we are right now,” Igesund was quoted as saying by South Africa’s Soccer Laduma.

Igesund also said they got what they needed from the match.

The South Africans started and finished the game strongly, but were not convincing throughout. Still, they managed to see out victory with goals from Lehlohonolo Majoro, Siphiwe Tshabalala and May Mahlangu [penalty] while Joseph Kamwendo converted a spot kick scored the consolation goal for the Flames from a penalty..

“I thought in the first-half we played really good football. We scored two goals and then we took our foot off the pedal, (when we should have) tried to bury them and get a third goal,” said Igesund.

He added: “Then there was a period in the second-half when we lost our shape completely. I think a lot of the players got very sluggish, very tired, got lazy and gave the ball away.

“Of course, we had to make the changes and I think we took control of the game again after that. Obviously I’m very pleased that we won the game, it’s always important to win for the fans.

“I got a lot out of the game. I was able to give May Mahlangu a run, I was able to see (Sifiso) Myeni, I was able to see (Thabo) Matlaba and I think we achieved what we wanted.”

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