South Africa and Tanzania played to a goalless draw in an international friendly game staged at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Friday night.
Coach Hugo Broos gave a chance to Deanno van Rooyen, who had a great campaign with Orlando Pirates, to show what he was capable of doing for the national team. The 20-year-old Simphiwe Selepe and Tshepang Moremi were also drafted in the starting team.
Kaizer Chiefs fans were also presented with an opportunity to watch Azam FC attacking midfielder Feisal Salum who has been linked with a move to the Glamour Boys.
What happened in the first half?
As expected, it was the hosts who started the game on a high, with the fringe players keen to impress Hugo Broos ahead of the September 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
In the 10th minute, Ashley Cupido, who started ahead of Yanele Mbuthuma, found space 25 yards from the goal, but his effort, which was well struck, narrowly missed the target.
Thalente Mbatha had a good chance to at least hit the target in the 30th minute when Cupido set him up just out of the 18-yard area, but the Buccaneers man sky-rocketed his effort.
Taifa Stars struggled to breach Bafana Bafana's defense, which looked well-coordinated even without the regulars. It was the hosts who ended the first half as good as they started, with Oswin Appollis testing goalkeeper Suleiman Ali Yakoub from 30 yards out.
The story of the second half
Broos' men started the second stanza well, winning an early free kick in a good position after a foul against Appollis. The Polokwane City winger stepped up to take the set-piece, but it did not even trouble the goalkeeper.
Moremi came close to giving his team a lead in the 59th after a good pass from Patrick Maswanganyi, but was denied by the Taifa Stars Custodian.
The first shot on target for Tanzania came in the 70th minute when Salum found Daudi Mishamo, but Leaner Renaldo, who had replaced Ricardo Goss in Bafana Bafana's goal, dealt with the danger.
Relebohile Mofokeng, and Sinoxolo Kwayiba were brought in later in the game to add more creativity, but Tanzania ensured they kept their shape at the back.
Broos' men will now turn their attention to Tuesday's fixture against Mozambique to be staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium.