The latest Bafana Bafana team has the nation talking, with a mix of youth and experience, led by a coach who seems to have won over the South African footballing community.
Playing with so much flair and confidence, Bafana Bafana are actually giving this proud sporting nation some hope.
It was not all about the latest 5 – 0 thrashing of a very poor Congo side at the Nelson Mandela Stadium that has instilled this hope, but rather a build-up of moments worth mentioning.
One wonders if they are feeding off this incredible champion energy our Springboks give off, but really, our football has become pleasing on the eye.
Highlights such as having a Goalkeeper and Captain listed as one of the top 10 goalkeepers in the World, after making the prestigious Ballon D‘or list.
The Eastern Cape born shot stopper, Ronwen Williams, has everyone talking, especially after his heroics at the last African Cup of Nations tournament — making save after save to help Bafana Bafana reach the semis, after narrowly losing out to Nigeria.
But why aren’t more people talking about Bafana Bafana?
We have started producing some English premier league players — most notably Burnley’s Lyle Foster — and have players who have really lit up the South African Premier Soccer League.
It’s no secret that over recent years, we have seen the side being swamped with Mamelodi Sundowns players, who were even secretly being coached by the Sundowns coach from behind the scenes at one stage.
But in recent times, we have seen some exciting talents come through the doors, such as Oswin Appolis, Aubrey Mobida, Rushwin Dortley, Thapelo Morena, Lyle Foster, Iqraam Rayners and the amazing Teboho Mokoena.
This Mokoena boy deserves a chance to play among the stars as he as only ever done amazing things.
Mokoena slammed in a header to put Bafana Bafana ahead in the game, minutes after receiving a yellow card for a silly foul.
If that was not enough, he then smacks in a right footed curler, sending the average-to-poor Congolese goalkeeper diving, but even if he were superman, it would have been hard to save that one.
Defensively, led by the solid Ronwen Williams, we have a young backline that are starting to gel really nicely, playing the ball out and not afraid to make mistakes.
They start off shakey, but as the game goes on, build in confidence. I am not willing to put my house on it just yet that we could go on to win the next World Cup, but we could compete.
I think that is all the nation ever wanted to see — our soccer boys competing and putting up a fight.
Half the time, we never got to see them compete as we could never qualify for the big competitions. We competed at the World Cup back in 2010 when we automatically qualified because we were the host nation.
But we are on the right path and Bafana Bafana Coach, Hugo Broos has made sure that the nation will be proud of the brand of football.
Let’s aim small, conquer Africa by winning the continent’s biggest football tournament and then we have to put our focus on the World.
For those that still don’t believe — go fly a kite and support the marbles World Cup.
DISCLAIMER: These are the views of GoalMOUTH, if you don’t like them, great, I’d like to hear why.
So step into my GOAL and don’t mind to watch your MOUTH! 🙂
