Bafana Bafana B’s COSAFA Cup squad head coach Vela Khumalo bemoaned fatigue as a key factor in their final defeat to Angola on Sunday afternoon.
South Africa were hoping to make it six COSAFA Cup crowns but the Black Sable Antelopes had other plans as they stormed to a 3-0 win to defend their title and win it for the fifth time.
In his post-match interview, Khumalo was not too critical of his players and was okay with taking the silver home especially after South Africa’s struggle to make it into the knoockout stages since they last won it in 2021.
“We played a really solid team, it’s the first team I think,” Khumalo told SuperSport TV.
“I think the game we played against Comoros took a little bit of energy around us. We were not really energetic, but we spoke about their set-pieces where they are going to score from standard situations. And they did exactly that.
“It was all about lapse of concentration from our boys, but I cannot falter them now. It’s gone; it’s dusted. We have silver, we wanted to have gold. It’s one of those things we take and go.
“We tried really. We wanted to be even more offensive, played more attacking players but the energy was somehow depleted because of the game we played which is not an excuse, but we take silver.
“Like I’m saying, we take silver and we going it’s okay.
“I think it was a good exposure for our boys. I think Hugo Broos saw them now and he can make decision on them.
“We had quality, we had talented team, we played very well and it’s up to the coach to see who he can pick.
“One or two in this team I think they will beef up the senior Bafana Bafana.”
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