Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has shared his insights regarding the performance of Kaizer Chiefs newly acquired defender Rushwin Dortley in the match against Uganda.
Despite having played for the national team led by Helman MKhalele in the COSAFA Cup, this was Dortley’s first match at Bafana under the leadership of Broos.
He partnered with FCSB defender Siyabonga Ngezana with Mamelodi Sundowns centre-back Grant Kekana sidelined.
Broos praised the centre-back pairing of Ngezana and Dortley, saying they performed admirably and cannot be blamed for any goal between the two that were scored from distance.
He conveyed his pleasure regarding Dortley and believed that their choice to include him in the starting line-up was a wise one.
HUGO BROOS’ THOUGHTS ON DORTLEY
“I think you can’t blame players in the back, they did what they had to do, they did their job,” said Broos.
“I think for Rushwin it was his first game, not an easy game. And he did well, so I think I the choice we made with him, it was a good choice.”
A few weeks ago, Broos explained that he called Dortley to the squad because he wanted someone comfortable with left-foot.
He said they had been desperately in need of the left-footed centre-back for some time.
WHY HUGO BROOS CALLED DORTLEY?
“That was something we were looking for, to have a left-footed central defender,”
“Mothobi does it very well but there are moments in the game where he’s a little bit uncomfortable and this is normal, he’s a right-footed player.
“Again, I want to say COSAFA is important and people here in this country don’t understand it. Already three years we tried it, U23 of PSL players and every year it’s not possible because those players are not released.
“COSAFA is not a big tournament but it gives to the players who are there an international experience. We’ve now players who are coming to Bafana Bafana players with zero international experience.
“This is a tournament where we can see, ‘ok, this guy we can take him’ and that’s the case of Dortley. He played a very good COSAFA, he’s a left-footed central defender – why should I not take him?
“He played about 3-4 games in COSAFA. This is what mean, let us make a team of U23 players for COSAFA. It will help us.”
