Bafana Bafana and Mpumalanga Black Aces goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane says preparations for the second leg of the 2016 Chan qualifiers against Mauritius are going better than the last time, when they had three training sessions cancelled ahead of the game.
“We’ve just had our second training session, everything is looking good, and we have almost all the players in camp, so we are quite okay at the moment.
“We had about three training sessions cancelled ahead of the first leg, which was a bit frustrating for the technical team and for the players as well, so at least now we have almost the whole squad at training and a couple of days to prepare,” said Mbokgwane.
Even though Shakes Mashaba’s men only had one training session ahead of the first leg, they went on to beat Mauritius 3-0 at the Dobsonville Stadium thanks to a brace by Black Leopards midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase and Orlando Pirates striker Tham-sanqa Gabuza.
Mabokgwane added that having Itumeleng Khune back in the national team is a good thing and a motivation to him, and is quite happy to be competing with someone who has been the No1 ‘keeper for the country in a long time.
“Itu and I go a long way back, from junior national teams. We are good friends off the field, we motivate and encourage each other, so I am happy that he is back.
“And for me I am excited that I am now competing with someone who has been No1 for the country for quite a long time.
“It is also a challenge for me to push my game and make sure that we continue with the healthy competition that has been there with him and Senzo (Meyiwa) and all the other ‘keepers.”
Mabokgwane, on the other hand, also reflected on changes at his club, where Aces will start the 2015/2016 campaign under the guidance of the experienced Turkish coach Muhsin Ertugral, who took the reins at the club from Clive Barker in May.
“We are all quite excited at the club with the coach we have, he is a very good and experienced coach, both internationally and locally. We are all excited to have him and we are looking forward to working with him.
“We also had a great coach when we started the season with Clive Barker, but it is a different dimension all together right now; we have to adjust to different tactics, different mentality and different coaching.
“The difference will be in the style of coaching and it does raise the bar, in terms of a new coach, new players for the new season.We are looking forward to it,” Mabokgwane explained.
Bafana Bafana will depart for Mauritius on Friday, where they will lock horns with the The Dodos at the Stade Anjalay in Mauritius on Sunday.