Moroka Swallows coach Steve Komphela has explained why he believes consistent national team selection will help Bafana at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
With the Africa Cup of Nations just a month away, the shock 2-0 defeat to Rwanda has cast some doubt over Bafana Bafana's chances for continental glory.
READ | Haskins concerned by shaky Bafana defence
Komphela believes current head coach Hugo Broos has to find some consistency in his selection, particularly in defence.
"Centre-backs generally are very important," Komphela said during a post-match press conference on Sunday.
"I played centre-back and I know very well what it means to have a pairing that is consistent, because you develop telepathy. If you paired me with Lucas Radebe I knew I would be okay.
"So, I'm trying to say to Bafana Bafana is, the quicker you get the [centre-back] pairing that is consistent, there's strong enough to qualify whatever has to be done, the better for you.
"But the more you change this and that and that, you don't find stability, you don't find cohesion don't find telepathy and understanding of the two.
"So, I hope they do [find a centre-back pairing] but I think I think the previous match (against Rwanda) we watched, there were special circumstances and conditions and you can't fault them and players must make mistakes but mistakes must not be too costly.
"We want to remember a South Africa (Bafana Bafana) that has players that you can simply count. As is now we still looking for a team that we can count in our sleep, that each one of us is a country you can just come up with the first eleven.
"If I can ask you the Afcon team (Bafana's 1996 Afcon winning team) you can easily come very close to what the late Clive Barker would bring.
"Even at club level, the best teams (you can name). If I were to say give us a chiefs team. Give us a Sundown team.
"So, you need to have that, the minute you have that consistency in your team and team selection, there's a possibility of consistency in your results as well."
Bafana kick-off their Afcon campaign with a group stage against Mali on 16 January 2024.
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