Ex-Chiefs coach justifies playing Khoza in midfield for Bafana Bafana

Bafana Bafana played to a 1-1 draw against favourites Algeria in a CHAN assignment played at the Mandela Stadium on Friday.

South Africa took time to settle, but when they eventually did, they gave the Fennecs something to think about, especially in the midfield and the final third. One player who impressed, eventually winning the Man of the Match Award, was the versatile Mamelodi Sundowns defender Malibongwe Khoza.

The 21-year-old played in the defensive midfield role, a role he executed effectively. He initiated a pass from which Bafana Bafana scored their goal. South Africa CHAN coach Molefi Ntseki has lauded the towering youngster and explained why he decided to play him in that position as opposed to the usual, at the heart of the team's defense.

‘Khoza is a future Bafana Bafana player'

“Malibongwe Khoza played as a midfielder when he was playing in the DDC. These are the players that I have been tracking from the junior ranks and also getting promoted to the first team in a few games he played as a center-back and adding numbers in the midfield,” the former Kaizer Chiefs coach told the media.

“He's a very intelligent player. He reads the game very well. So in terms of our approach, I think he carried out the plan very well, because he was moving from deep zones into the midfield and also helping us coming from underneath to switch our play and also to give those forward passes.

“The goal that came from his pass is a training session type of a goal to have our midfielders overload the defense. And for him, with his technical quality, playing such a good pass into Menzi Masuku, we managed to get a goal from that situation. He’s a good young man and when I project his future in terms of his potential and his performance, I think he’s a future Bafana Bafana player,” he concluded.

The next assignment for Ntseki's men will be on Monday against Guinea.