Hugo Broos to stick with core as Bafana face Panama again

South Africa were held to a 1-1 draw in Durban on Friday night and will face the same opposition again at the DHL Stadium on Tuesday.

When asked whether he would rotate his squad – particularly players from Mamelodi Sundowns – Broos insisted there is no need for significant rotation, signalling continuity in selection for the rematch.

"No, there will not be a lot of changes, not at all and I know that the Sundowns players have an overloaded programme also the next few weeks but this is not my problem. I have to prepare for the World Cup and I think when we have a disappointment in the World Cup people won't say, ow coach, you did say that players of Sundowns [are busy],” Broos said.

“Sundowns have enough players, they have 35 players so they can certainly change here in the PSL. If Mokoena players or Modiba players or Mudau players or if they don't, they always win in the PSL. So, I don't see the problem for them."

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One player that Broos is a protective over is veteran Themba Zwane, who missed the AFCON having just recovered from injury.

"I think everybody saw why I put him in the team today. Themba is such a good player, he makes us play good football but I knew also that he wasn't ready to play 90 minutes and we had to take attention with him and be careful with him,” the coach added. 

“Not to overload him because when we overload him, he'll have injuries, I'm sure of it. So, therefore that was the reason why he came out after 55 minutes. We will see next Tuesday how he recuperates because if he recuperates he will play again because he needs that. 

‘I cannot decide about that but I hope he gets more play time at Sundowns also because he needs that rhythm of the game he needs those minutes to play. You saw in a few minutes also in the game that he was too slow and that is the reason also because he doesn't play enough but again, if Themba stays like he is now, fit, no injuries, then even if he's not ready for 90 minutes he will be with us in the World Cup, that's for sure."