Broos urges Bafana to treat Zambia clash as competitive test, not a friendly

Bafana Bafana trained at Ellis Park Stadium on Monday ahead of their international friendly against Zambia on Saturday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has made it clear that he does not view Saturday's match against Zambia as a mere friendly, stressing that every game matters as the squad fine-tunes ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. He delivered those instructions at camp in Johannesburg ahead of the 6pm kickoff at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. Broos told players the team remains motivated after securing World Cup qualification last month and expects the same intensity against Zambia. He plans to field a strong side while also using the match to evaluate fresh options for the longer term. Among the newcomers Broos intends to look at are Orlando Pirates' Masindi Nemtajela and Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa, both rewarded for strong club form. The coach emphasised the need to test new players partly because injuries can force changes later, so match exposure now is valuable.