South Africa and Tanzania played out an uninspiring 0-0 draw in their International Friendly played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening.
Neither Bafana Bafana nor the Taifa Stars were able to demonstrate the necessary creativity and incision to break down the other’s defence, leaving the sides to settle for a stalemate.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos handed full debuts to four players in the starting XI, with Deano van Rooyen, Khulumani Ndamane, Simphiwe Selepe and Tshepang Moremi all getting their first full national team starts.
The hosts were on the front foot from the early minutes, with Oswin Appollis seeing an effort cleared almost off the line by a defender, and Ashley Cupido sending a drive just wide, inside the opening quarter hour.
Bafana Bafana continued to boss the game through the remainder of the first half, though they were unable to create any clear chances with which to test the Tanzanian goalkeeper, Suleiman Ali.
In fact the shot-stopper made just the one notable save, diving to his left to keep out a long-range effort from Appollis in injury time before the interval.
Ali made an even better save just before the hour mark, reacting sharply to palm away a Moremi drive that looked destined for the bottom corner of the net.
As for Bafana’s goalkeeper, Ricardo Goss made way just after the hour mark to allow Renaldo Leaner to make his debut, while a trio of substitutions with just over 20 minutes to play saw Relebohile Mofokeng, Sinoxolo Kwayiba and Mohau Nkota (also a debut) introduced off the bench.
Luke Le Roux also made a late bow for South Africa, but ultimately Tanzania were able to hold firm in defence and secure a creditable 0-0 draw.
Bafana Bafana will next be in International Friendly action on Tuesday 10 June when they host Mozambique at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
South Africa 0
Tanzania 0
SA: Goss (Leaner 63’), Van Rooyen, Ndamane, Moloisane, Basadien, Mbatha (Le Roux 84’), Selepe, Maswanganyi (Kwayiba 69’), Moremi (Nkota 69’), Appolis (Mofokeng 69’), Cupido
Tanzania: Ali, Msindo, Mwaikenda, Ibrahim, Job (Muhamed 86’), Pipino (Msanga 63’), Kagoma, Denis (Selemani 28’), Salum, Msuva (Mohamed 64’), Mwalimu (Daudi 46’ [Khamis 86’])