By Batsirai Sango.
The Ivory Coast edition of the African Cup of nations saw the Hugo Broos coached Bafana Bafana going on a giant killing run culminating in South Africa taking home the bronze medal at the inaugural now 24 teams’ nation tournament.
With a team predominantly made up of local players few would have given them a chance but boy oh boy did they not put nay sayers to shame beating World cup semifinalists Morrocco in stunning fashion with a last-minute exquisite set piece from Mamelodi Sundowns maestro Teboho Mokoena.
Since then, Bafana Bafana have been playing some breath-taking football and the just ended international break provided another chance for them to show not just Mzansi Africa football fanatics but the entire motherland, that from the southern hemisphere of the great continent a football giant has finally awoken from her slumber.
With the qualifiers for Africa’s premiere football showpiece the Africa Cup of Nations up for grabs Bafana Bafana had the Republic of Congo lying in wait, and the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium was the venue, and what an electrifying packed atmosphere it was.
One has to admit that it has been hell of a long time since Bafana Bafana have invoked such great enthusiasm, zeal, passion amongst a football mad population, and a beautiful thing it was to watch.
As early as the 12th minute Teboho Mokoena rose high to dispatch a fine header from a corner kick sending the entire Nelson Mandela Bay into a frenzy.
A quarter of an hour later in the 27th minute Tebza as Teboho Mokoena is affectionately referred to, was the same culprit in the 2nd goal producing a top-drawer finish that had Sizwe Mabhena recite his famous “click, click bang” line and Helman Mkhelele the assistant to coach Hugo in utter disbelief at what he had just witnessed.
A thunderbolt that beat the Congolese goalie all systems out, leaving the entire stadium in utter disbelief at what they had just witnessed.
Those are the kind of goals that one would say we normally see in European football circles, but the great motherland is also showing that our football is on that very same trajectory and that with proper administration we can be as competitive, as shown by the classy, top-drawer finish from Teboho Mokoena.
Mokoena’s stunning strike invoked memories of the FIFA 2010 World Cup held on Mzansi’s shores, where in the semifinals the Netherlands playing against Uruguay, Dutch maestro Giovanni Van Bronckhorst produced a moment from football heaven unleashing a strike that would go on to win the goal of the tournament gong. And such was Mokoena’s strike at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium.
Bafana Bafana would go on to clinch the encounter in stunning fashion dispatching their opponents by 5goals to nil, and without any bias one has to appreciate what Tshwane giants Mamelodi Sundowns have done in terms of development of players, and exposing players to the highest level of competition be it in CAF club football competitions, which has benefitted the national side, as these players can stand tall competing with their colleagues playing in Europe.
Good times are certainly rolling for Bafana Bafana, and one cannot deny the erstwhile loyalty from fans that they have once again invoked.
Halala Bafana Halala!!.
