Does Notoane really believe his Under-23 side can win in Congo? Like really?

David Notoane is a man of strong faith, for it takes really strong and unwavering faith to believe that the SA Under-23 side can go to Congo Brazzaville and come back victorious. 

The thing about faith is, it sometimes entails believing in things that have no proof of existence, and when it comes to the national U23 side, there was no proof in their performance on Thursday that they can go to Congo and get a positive result. 

Congo played with a lot of tactical maturity, and used their physical superiority to their advantage to nullify the threat of the technically gifted South African team. 

They did that without breaking much of a sweat, one can only imagine how they will be even a better side in their own backyard, with the away goal at their advantage and a desperate SA U23 team that is bound to make a lot of mistakes in their for a miraculous victory. 

But Notoane has faith in his team, and he believes they can go to Congo and come back unscathed, despite the obvious deficiencies in his side's performance. 

"We lacked a little bit of the experience, maturity and the technical finesse to find the right pass, and the right movements to penetrate them. But they are young guys, I am happy that we didn't lose, which is very important that we got a 1-1 draw, but I think we are capable of doing away and get a result," Notoane said after the game. 

He was disappointment with the way his team defended. 

"The way we conceded, I'm very disappointed because it's a lapse of concentration moment, we've got two big boys, and the striker is in between them. We didn't stop the cross from coming in, which is something that we knew, that they will be playing out [on Msane's side].

On Samkelo Zwane and Kgaogelo Chauke's performances: 

"In terms of the intensity of the game, the physicality of the game, the tempo, some players were struggling a little bit. 

"Zwane [Samkelo], Kgaogelo [Chauke] coming in, didn't show the energy that we would have wanted on the ball, and show his quality, but again we just thought let us give him a chance, and see how he copes with the physicality of these guys [Congo]."

On what they need to improve on before Monday: 

"But the skills are there, the football intelligence is there, but we are going to require more than the technical ability, but more aggression, the strength, and the fight, more especially the fight."

The fact of the matter is Monday comes to soon for the improvements required for Notoane's boys to win in Congo. 

But miracles do happen in football, with Notoane's faith, maybe, just maybe, the unthinkable may happen. 

Image credit: Prince Sobayeni Sports Twitter. 

SA Under-23 Olympics hopes hang in the balance as they draw 1-1 with Congo.

South Africa Under-23 were held to a one all draw by Congo Brazzaville on Tuesday afternoon at Dobsonville Stadium.

David Notoane's boys struggled to put together cohesive performance against a Congolese side that used their physical presence to their advantage.

Despite fielding a team full of individual brilliance, lack of team chemistry was evident in the South African side, which can be attributed to the boys not having enough preparation time to build some form of synergy.

In the first half, Notoane's boys barely put three passes together, with Congo exacting their physical capabilities in one vs one duels to pressure South African players into losing possession.

As a team, the Congolese remained compact in their defending third, not allowing the South Africans any space to maneuver. In possession, they looked to get forward as quick as possible to take advantage of the space left behind by the likes of Siyanda Msani and Keagan Johannes in the outside channels.

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Their ploy paid just before half time when Rhaemma Bissila gave them the lead with a close range header.

In the second half, South Africa played with more urgency, looking for the equalizer, but there was still not much improvement in the quality of their play.

It took the introduction of Mduduzi Shabalala after the 60th minute to change the complexion of the game for Notoane's side.

Shabalala delivered a pin point cross from the right outside channel that was guided home by SuperSport United winger, Thapelo Maseko.

Incidentally, Maseko was the most threatening South African player, and finding the equalizer capped a good performance from the skillful youngster.

After the equalizer, it was back to square one for SA as Congo increased the intensity in their play, both on and off the ball, which seemed to unsettle SA even more.

With the game ending at 1-1, South Africa will have to beat Congo at
Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat in Brazzaville on Monday if they are to qualify for the Afcon U23 tournament to be held in Morocco.

If they play a draw, it will have to be 2-all or more for them to qualify on away goals.

Image: SAFA.net