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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana are in a strong position to progress to the final continental qualifying groups as their quest to secure a place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia continues.
They take a 3-1 lead into Durban's second-leg against Angola, and if they emerge from the tie victorious they will take a giant leap towards appearing in their first World Cup since 2010 and second since 2002.
Things are looking up for Mashaba and Bafana - somewhat of a rarity in recent times.
One of the big positives to emerge from Friday's win in Benguela was the fact the both Bafana strikers - Tokelo Rantie and Thami Gabuza - found the back of the net.
Goal scoring and having lethal strikers has long been a well documented problem in South Afrcian football, and when asked about the decision to play two strikers instead of one Mashaba was quick to point out that the media have had a lot to say.
"My appeal to people is to give me a chance as coach of this team," Mashaba said from Durban.
"You’ve given me a responsibility to run it. There is no way where I could select a team and play negatively … there is no way.
"I stayed the whole week with these boys in the training sessions. People start saying ‘Why not so and so, why so and so?
"We’re on course. A lot of people, the media, say it’s a roller-coaster. That’s what kids enjoy … as it goes up and down it brings excitement. If it wasn’t a roller-coaster and we were winning, they would say that we don’t have strong opposition."
The only injury concern for Bafana ahead of Tuesday's 19:00 kick-off appears to be Anele Ngcongca with a twisted ankle.
