Mhlongo: Mexico match a positive sign for Bafana

Former Bafana Bafana international Benson Mhlongo fully understands the reasoning behind Hugo Broos's decision to adopt a defensive approach in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match.

Broos will likely adjust his tactics in Bafana Bafana's second match against Czech Republic on Thursday, following public criticism for respecting Mexico too much.

"In the first game, the coach aimed for at least a draw in the first half, but it didn't work out due to multiple factors," Mhlongo tells KickOff.

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"He didn't have sufficient time to prepare for the World Cup; even in the five friendly matches, he only had two games and two weeks before the tournament.

"Our country should have concluded domestic competitions earlier to allow proper preparation. That was the first obstacle. Additionally, it's not easy to risk everything in your first World Cup match and jeopardize a loss. Gaining even a point initially keeps us in the running for the knockout stage.

"We have talented players like Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng who can be utilized. It's not as dire as it seems. We still hold a real chance. Mexico caught us off guard, and we gifted them goals, they didn't earn those.

"The fact that we lost due to self-inflicted errors is actually a positive sign. Against Czech Republic, we must find an attacking rhythm. We are well-equipped in that area. We should revert to our 4-3-3 system, leverage our wingers, and support our number 10. Let's return to the style we showcased in the AFCON."