Stars set for Bafana Bafana battle

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA’s national football team, Taifa Stars, is set to square off against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in what promises to be a thrilling international friendly this evening at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Though dubbed a ‘friendly’, both sides are approaching this encounter with tactical intensity, using it as a vital springboard ahead of the 2024 Hollywood bets COSAFA Cup.

For the Taifa Stars, the clash is far from a casual kickabout. With critical Group C fixtures against Eswatini and Madagascar on the horizon, the Tanzanian camp is treating tonight’s match as a fullfledged dress rehearsal.

“We, as TFF and as a team, are well-prepared and ready to battle,” declared James Mhagama, Executive Committee Member of the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) and Head of Delegation.

“In football, when you’re invited, it’s not a time for embarrassment, it’s a time for business. We’ve been invited, and we intend to deliver.” Taifa Stars arrived with clear intent, to test their mettle against a formidable opponent and fine-tune their strategies ahead of COSAFA competition.

This year marks Tanzania’s first appearance in the regional tournament since 2017 and their fourth overall. Despite a checkered past having suffered previous defeats to both Madagascar and Eswatini—the Stars are eager to flip the script in this competition.

On the opposite bench, Bafana Bafana Head Coach Hugo Broos is taking a more developmental approach. With a focus on squad depth and long-term goals, the Belgian tactician views the friendly against Tanzania and the upcoming match against Mozambique as crucial opportunities to evaluate his emerging talents.

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“These games are more about performance than pressure,” said Broos.

“We want to win both matches, absolutely. But more importantly, I want to see how the new players perform. No pressure, just football. From there, we’ll evaluate and plan our next steps.” With regular captain Ronwen Williams unavailable due to Club World Cup duties in the United States, defender Nkosinathi Sibisi will lead the side in both fixtures. Broos has emphasised the importance of staying grounded and respecting their opponents. “People may underestimate Tanzania and Mozambique,” he added.

“But both played at AFCON last year, and Mozambique are making serious strides toward World Cup qualification. These are no soft touches—they’ll give us a proper test.” Tonight’s match kicks off at 7:30 PM local time. South Africa will return to action at the same venue and time on Tuesday to face Mozambique.

For Tanzania, the real campaign begins Saturday at 6 PM when they take on Madagascar at Toyota Stadium.

The Group C action continues with Madagascar vs Eswatini on Monday at 3 PM at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, followed by Tanzania’s second group match against Eswatini on Wednesday at 3 PM at Toyota Stadium.

Group D also promises fireworks with Zambia facing Comoros on Friday at 6 PM, followed by Comoros vs Botswana on Monday at 3 PM and Botswana vs Zambia wrapping up the group on Wednesday at 3 PM. All Group D matches will be split between Toyota Stadium and Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.