Broos details how Mokoena solves Bafana’s Themba Zwane overreliance
South Africa’s head coach, Hugo Broos, has shed light on his plans to reduce Bafana Bafana’s overreliance on talismanic midfielder Themba Zwane.
Bafana are in Yamoussoukro preparing for their crunch quarterfinal tie against Cape Verde on Saturday. They reached the last eight after beating FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco 2-0 in San Pedro.
Speaking ahead of the match, Broos highlighted the growing influence of Teboho Mokoena and explained how the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder’s qualities can address the team’s overreliance on Zwane’s creativity.
“Teboho became a very important player for us. He becomes better and better,” Broos said. “What is good for our team is that those two guys in the midfield [Sphephelo Sithole and Mokoena] complement each other.
“Sithole is more the guy, the worker, the guy with the power. Teboho is the guy who is the link between our defence and our attack.
“Before, we had only Themba, so when everything was focused on Themba, sometimes we had problems. But now, with Teboho, we have someone else also.
“So, when we can’t reach immediately or much of the time, Themba, there is always Teboho. And that was in the game of Morocco. That was something that gave us an extra quality.”
WHAT QUALITIES MAKE TEBOHO MOKOENA VALUABLE
Broos elaborated on Mokoena’s specific attributes that make him valuable in this regard. The 27-year-old midfielder has a goal and an assist at the ongoing AFCON.
“I hope that Teboho can go on like this. He’s running 90 minutes, he’s physically very strong, and he’s a very good player. He’s technically very good, so it gives us an extra quality.
“Now that Teboho has become a player that I always wanted, not only the midfielder, no, no. He’s the one who runs, and he’s the link between our attack and the defence. Or with Themba, if you have Themba in front of you, it becomes also more easier for Teboho.
“So, we have now, if you can count Themba as a midfielder, a very complementary midfield, and this is very important.”
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