Bafana B team coach Morena Ramoreboli says he faced challenges in unlocking the mental block of some of his players because they hardly played at their clubs this past season.
He said he had to tell Lesedi Kapinga how good he was when he joined Mamelodi Sundowns, as he didn’t play much this past season.
Kapinga, who spent three seasons with Sundowns and won three league titles, was let go by the Tshwane Giants and is currently a free agent.
On Wednesday, he started in a three-men attack alongside Victor Letsoalo and Tebogo Tlolane, who played less than he anticipated at Maritzburg United this past season on loan, as Bafana B side drew 1-1 with Botswana at King Zwelithini Stadium.
“You need to give them the belief and again, you need to remind them that, for example, if you are talking about Kapinga, for him to sign with Sundowns, it is because of the performance he gave when he was at Black Leopards,” said Ramorebodi.
“So we needed to remind them of how good they are, despite the fact they were not playing at their clubs. Some of them are out of contract and some of them you need to remind them that, for you to get a contract, people must see you with a good performance.
“If you look at Katlego Mohamme, guys like Lyle Lakay – many of these guys, honestly speaking, they gave their all. And that is the most important thing.”
Kapinga and goalie Jethren Barr are the two players in the Bafana COSAFA squad who are currently without a club.
Rowan Human, who scored a blinding equaliser, is another whose future is uncertain at Maritzburg United after the club was relegated this past season to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The Team of Choice’s chairman Farook Kadodia said he is flooded with interest for the player, with offers from both locally and internationally.
Thabo Cele, who has played in the COSAFA Cup before under Stuart Baxter, was handed the Man of the Match award after a fine display on his return to national team duty.
The goal scored by Namibia’s Elmo Kambindu was the first time a team coached by Ramorebodi conceded a goal in the COSAFA Cup.
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When Ramorebodi was given the same role by SAFA in the 2021 edition in Port Elizabeth, his Bafana B side won the competition without conceding when Veli Mothwa was in goals.
“The record is broken, but we have to accept it,” said Ramorebodi.
“In PE we had a different team compared to the team we are having here. The challenges we have in Durban, are the different challenges we got in PE.
“I think in PE we had enough time to put things together.”
Next up for Bafana’s makeshift squad will be Botswana in the second group match on Saturday.
