The South African Development side brought some cheer to the international soccer scene by beating Mozambique 2-1 to retain the COSAFA Cup now renamed the COSAFA Senior Challenge in the final played on the artificial pitch at the Thulamahashe Stadium in Bushbuck Ridge on Sunday.

A 'Bafana B' side beat Zambia in last year's final. South Africa have now won the trophy three times.

A goal in each half from striker Marcellino Fransch earned the South Africans their triumph against the Mozambique Mambas.

Moroka Swallows midfielder, Lefa Tsutsulupa, was the mastermind for the South Africans in midfield during the first half where he controlled the action from the engine room.

The South African Football Association used this tournament as development. No caps were awarded by SAFA. It is hoped the Challenge would unearth new talent for Bafana.

The hard working Tsutsulupa caught the eye but at 28 he is no youngster.

Fransch who plays in the National First Division for FC Cape Town did his hopes of a senior call-up in the not so distant future a power of good with his two goals.

But Bloemfontein Celtic striker Petrus Mahlatsi who has two Bafana caps was a disappointment. He was given a late call up due to the injury to Free State Stars John Tsotsetsi. The Celtic striker failed to make an impression and was replaced early in the second half by Thulani Ngcephe.

Tsutsulupa was wide with a shot in the fifth minute but was able to orchestrate the opening goal in the 17th minute.

Mozambique goalkeeper Marcelino misjudged the 'Birds' player's right wing cross which cannoned off the post and quick as a flash Fransch hammered home the rebound giving the stranded Mambas keeper no chance and putting the SA development side into a 1-0 lead.

In-between FC AK winger Mark McVeigh made his intentions clear when he forced Marcelino to make a spectacular save from his well directed long range shot which the Mambas 'keeper managed to turn around his post for a corner on 11 minutes.

McVeigh tried his luck with another 30 metre plus shot after 22 minutes but this time his shot skimmed the upright.

The Mambas dangerman was their captain and striker Manuel 'Tico-Tico' Bucuane who was always in the thick of the action. It took a good clearance from defender Rooi Mohamutsa to deny Bucuane an equaliser on the half hour.

South African skipper and former SA Under-23 goalkeeper Jacob Mokhasi pulled off a superb save in the 39th minute from Sonito after he was set up by Bucuane.

Mozambique finished the opening half stronger and continued in that vein after the interval.

However, a goal out of nothing from Fransch put the cherry on top when his left footed rocket beat keeper Marcelino in the 60th minute.

Fransch nearly got a hat-trick but his effort in the 79th minute went wide as did substitute Nqcephe's shot in the 82nd minute as the South Africans went for the kill.

But it was Mozambique who grabbed a consolation goal with virtually the last kick off the game when substitute Txuma netted.