International Friendly
Result: South Africa 3-2 Uganda
Date: 10 June 2021
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Bafana Bafana started the Hugo Broos era on a winning note after coming from behind to beat Uganda 3-2 on Thursday evening.
Bafana started the new era without head coach Hugo Broos and his assistant Cedomir Janevski, with Helman Mkhalele taking charge on the day.
Ronwen Williams, Innocent Maela and Lebohang Maboe were the only players left from the previous Bafana line-up as the other eight players were making their debut.
The sides cancelled each other out in the early exchanges but the Cranes broke the deadlock in the 17th minute from a counter-attack that ended with Ibrahim Orit heading home Emmanuel Okwi's cross at the back post.
Bafana were disorganised at the back and Uganda should have been 2-0 up two minutes later after Okwi went through on goal from a long ball over the top but he dragged his shot wide with only Williams to beat.
The hosts, meanwhile, regrouped defensively after that but they did not have the combinations to open up the Uganda rear-guard and failed to register a single shot at goal in the opening 45 minutes.
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The hosts made a double attacking change just after the break, with Thabiso Kutumela and debutant Evidence Makgopa replacing defenders Denwin Farmer and Nkosinathi Sibisi.
The changes paid off as Makgopa levelled matters in the 62nd minute after pouncing on a cross by fellow substitute Kutumela for a goal on debut.
Bongokuhle Hlongwane completed the turnaround for Bafana five minutes later with a left-footed strike that took a slight deflection for his first national team goal.
Makgopa then capped off his memorable debut with another goal seven minutes before time with a cracking low strike after a through ball by Mkhulise.
Abdu Lumala pulled a goal back in the last minute of regulation time with a close-range header after Bafana failed to clear their lines, but it was too little too late as South Africa clinched a 3-2 win and remain unbeaten against the Cranes.
Here's how they started:
South Africa: Williams, Maela, De Reuck, Sibisi, Mabiliso, Farmer, Brooks, Maboe, Martin, Mkhulise, Hlongwane
Subs: Bvuma, Ngcobo, Modiba, Makgopa, Kutumela
