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Mkhalele Laments 'Sloppy' Bafana After Stalemate

Mkhalele Laments 'Sloppy' Bafana After Stalemate

GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 29: Bafana Bafana Head coach Helman Mkalele (L) chats to Antonio Van Wyk of Bafana Bafana (R) during the 2024 COSAFA Cup match between South Africa and Botswana at Wolfson Stadium on June 29, 2024 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)

Bafana Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele was critical of the players after their goalless draw against Botswana.

The South Africans remain without a win in Group A at the COSAFA Cup after Saturday's goalless draw.

It was the second draw in a row for the South Africans and the coach feels the side were sloppy and not threatening enough.

Read: Group A Wide Open As Bafana Drop More Points

"It wasn't to be, I think we did control possession but I believe we were controlling much of the possession on our own half, we were not really a threat, especially with the combinations, trying to enter the final third," Mkhalele told SuperSport after the game.

"We didn't go in there with aggression, we were more sloppy, if I could put it that way. Because everything was slow, we were not really making those runs to support Sibanyoni, who was doing very well in terms of winning the aerial balls. So were we late in terms of joining him or anticipating the second balls.

"Going back to the drawing board with the next game, our last game against Eswatini, we have to make sure that we win that game to increase our chances of progressing to the next round," he said.

When asked where Bafana need to improve, he added, "What we lacked today, those passes and movements, those runs between and behind their defensive lines, especially in the entries of the final third.

"If we can increase those entries, I still believe that we have more quality that can score or take those opportunities."

Bafana will be back in action on Tuesday evening against Eswatini in their final group game.

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