The South Africa coach has weighed in on the performance of the goalkeeper against Uganda
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has shielded goalkeeper Veli Mothwa from blame following his shaky display in South Africa’s 2-2 draw against Uganda on Friday.
Mothwa was handed a rare start in goal in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, in the absence of captain Ronwen Williams, but he did not cover himself in glory as he should have done better for both goals that Uganda scored.
Denis Omedi beat Mothwa with a stunning shot from outside the box to equalise before Rogers Mato fired home a long-range shot which the goalkeeper should have saved but he fumbled the ball and watched it fly past him as the Cranes went 2-1 ahead.
What did Broos make of Veli Mothwa’s performance?
“We don’t know if Veli does not make that error, maybe we win the game. That can happen to every keeper. I don’t regret that I put him in goal,” Broos told the media after the match.
“Now we have to see how he is, he is very disappointed and we have much work to bring him back a little bit mentally and we will see if it is possible [for him to play next game].”
There had been debate before the match on who between Mothwa, Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss would start in goal and the Orlando Pirates goalkeeper appeared favourite given of the three, he has played the most games.
This is after Broos had lamented over the lack of competitive matches for some of the players but he still fielded Mothwa, whose club AmaZulu is yet to play a competitive fixture this season.
South Africa coach impressed by reaction against Uganda
Pirates star Thalente Mbatha scored a late equaliser for Bafana Bafana who looked like they were headed for a home defeat and Broos is thankful that his players did not give up.
“I am just really happy with the reaction of the team when it was 2-1 so a draw is better than a defeat,” Broos said in a separate interview with SABC, while defending Oswin Appollis, who missed several great opportunities.
“The first half we had the chances to score the second and third goal and you know in such a game, he [Oswin Appollis] is a guy who has not played so much the last weeks and the more the game goes the less power and less energy.”