Kenya coach Benni McCarthy says Bafana Bafana’s full-backs caused his side so many problems in their AFCON qualifier in Soweto that he had to change his system mid-game, reports Soccer Laduma.
McCarthy said his side couldn’t cope at first with how South Africa were using the flanks. With Oswin Appollis and Tshepang Moremi moving inside, and Relebohile Mofokeng and Iqraam Rayners occupying the middle, Bafana’s full-backs, Aubrey Modiba and Thabang Matuludi, had plenty of space to get forward.
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“Ossie and Tshepang were tucking inside and you had Rele and Iqraam that were causing us a lot of problems there, and then the full-backs were having a free ride every single time,” McCarthy told SABC Sport.
Kenya switched to a back three, which let their wing-backs pick up Bafana’s full-backs.
“I don’t think they realised I changed the system,” McCarthy said. “The wing-backs then occupied their full-backs, which I think they didn’t know what hit them, and then we started having a bit of space and more possession.”
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McCarthy admitted it wasn’t the cleanest game, calling it “a little too basketball-like” for his liking. He also accepted Kenya had gifted Bafana their opener, but felt his side controlled long spells.
He believes the draw was a fair result, with both goalkeepers keeping their teams in the game, and expects a strong response from Bafana when the sides meet again in Nairobi on Tuesday.
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“They’ve got another opportunity to come to Kenya and hopefully get something positive from that game,” he said.
Photo: Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images
