Bafana Bafana defender Wandisile Letlabika is optimistic they will return victorious in Mauritius.
Bafana Bafana defender Wandisile Letlabika is optimistic they will return victorious in Mauritius.
The South Africans face the home side on Sunday, 5 July in the second leg of a 2016 CHAN qualifier at the Stade Anjalay with a 13h00 kickoff.
Letlabika played a sterling role in the first leg which saw Bafana Bafana grab a 3-0 win at the Dobsonville Stadium a fortnight ago.
The Bloemfontein Celtic defender was roped in at the last minute and arrived in camp on the eve of the match. He made his debut the next day.
“It’s been a great opportunity for me. I have worked with coach Shakes before at U23 and so I am used to his ways of playing, and also as part of football you have to adapt quickly. This is something you have to grab with both hands,” said Letlabika.
“The whole process starts from your club – if you do well there the opportunities to get to Bafana Bafana are endless – and that call-up to the national team will come.”
South Africa is in the driving seat as they go into the match having scored three past their opponents with no reply, but Letlabika has advice for his compatriots.
“I think we don’t have to rush our game, we will wait for the right opportunity and when it comes we will go get that goal because we are in the lead so we don’t have do things haphazardly – there is really no rush for us,” added Letlabika.
“It is possible to get more goals because we have players who know how to score, so we just need to maximise the opportunities we will create. I think we are in a good shape compared to the first leg and we have spent more time together this time around, it is like we have known each other forever. To come this far as a team is great, all we have to do is to go out there and do our best.”
Bafana Bafana depart for Mauritius on Friday afternoon (3 July).
(updated Bafana Bafana travelling squad)
GOALKEEPERS: Jackson MABOKGWANE (Mpumalanga Aces FC), Itumeleng KHUNE (Kaizer Chiefs FC)
DEFENDERS: Wandisile LETLABIKA (Bloemfontein Celtic FC), Vukile Mngqibisa (Pretoria University FC), Lehlohonolo Nonyane (Mpumalanga Aces FC), Tshepo GUMEDE (Orlando Pirates FC), Kwanda MNGONYAMA (Maritzburg United FC), Motjeka Madisha (M. Tigers FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Gift MOTUPA (Orlando Pirates FC), Thabang MONARE (Jomo Cosmos FC), Musa NYATAMA (Bloemfontein Celtic FC), Mandla MASANGO (Kaizer Chiefs FC), William TWALA (Chippa United FC), Thabo MNYAMANE (Pretoria University FC)
STRIKERS: Bonginkosi NTULI (Amazulu FC), Thamsanqa GABUZA (Orlando Pirates FC), Ndumiso MABENA (Platinum Stars FC), Siphelele NTSHANGASE (Black Leopards FC).