Siphiwe Tshabalala has identified the third edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) as the ideal opportunity for Bafana Bafana to reassert themselves as one of the top teams on the continent.

South African fans have not had much to shout about in recent years, with several excruciating near-misses and failure to secure qualification for major tournaments still fresh on the national memory.

Very few will argue with the view that Bafana Bafana have underachieved under successive coaches. In fact, on the whole the team has regressed since lifting the AFCON title on home soil in 1995.

However, there have been some encouraging signs of resurgence under Gordon Igesund and Bafana will be hoping to continue that momentum during CHAN.

For Shabba, it is an opportunity to confound the doubters and prove that he still has the fire in the belly.

“All is well in preparations for the CHAN competition,” said the Amakhosi playmaker. “It has been a long time since my country has won a major competition. So this is a chance for us to prove to ourselves and other countries that we have built a better and ever progressive team.”

Shabba is part of the host’ squad comprised exclusively of players earning their keep in the local league as per the competition’s regulations. He does not believe that will hamper Bafana’s chances. In fact, ‘Nto tse monate’ is backing his team-mates to give a good account of themselves. CHAN affords those players on the fringes of the Bafana squad the perfect opportunity to stake a claim.

“The squad is formed of local players and therefore dominated by least experienced players,” Shabba noted. “That is not an issue because the experienced guys help the young ones adapt and feel comfortable enough to perform at their best. This competition is our chance to perform and win. I am adamant that we will do our best.”

Bafana open their CHAN campaign against neighbours Mozambique on 11 January 2014 at the Cape Town Stadium (18:00).