Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo has hailed the performance of Lyle Foster in the number 10 role, and pointed out an issue in Mlungisi Mbunjana’s game.
South Africa beat DR Congo 1-0 at Orlando Stadium, where the visitors seemed to have more fans than the home side.
Burnley striker Lyle Foster scored the only of the match, but it was the maturity in his new tactical role that impressed Khumalo.
“Bafana won on the field, but in the stands Congolese won. They won on the stands,” he said on SABC Sport.
“The subs made a difference but also Foster, [as] number 10, I never thought Foster will give us such a [performance] or make a difference on the park.
“Look at the goal he’s scored, and second half he was the only player that was keeping the ball and making us play.”
Khumalo, though, found some critical words for Mbunjana’s play, saying he plays too many balls backwards before insisting the TS Galaxy man and Bathusi Aubaas gave Bafana stability in the centre.
“The only problem that I can point from a coaching point of view, jersey number four Mbunjana. It’s a coaching point,” he added.
“He plays as central, holding midfielder, a very key player, the game has evolved… You don’t want to be that kind of a player, whenever you receive the balls are going backwards.
“It’s negative play, it’s not positive. That is a coaching points, that’s the reason why coach probably opted to substitute him.
“He only played one ball [forward] that went to Mobbie, first half, which was much better.
“But having said that a very workaholic in the middle of the park, especially with Aubaas, they gave us a very balanced midfield.”
Bafana are now nine games unbeaten under Hugo Broos, with their last defeat coming against Morocco in June 2022.
