Siphiwe ‘Shabba’ Tshabalala hopes Bafana can repeat his opening screamer goal for the side against Mexico in 2010 Fifa World Cup at home and beat them this time around in their own backyard. Photo: Zanele Siso of Zanephoto
Former Bafana Bafana star and scorer of the opening goal of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa against Mexico, Siphiwe Tshabalala, has welcomed the grudge draw against Mexico once more – saying ‘we have a score to settle with them’.
He was speaking soon after the conclusion of an elaborate and sophisticated draw for the upcoming tournament to be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico next year, in which US President Donald Trump was in the mix of things along with Fifa president Giovanni Vincenzo Infantino, a representative of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and a representative of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Tshabalala struck a beautiful curler shot that left the Mexican shot-stopper bemused as to what went past him, giving Bafana the lead in a game that was eventually won by the Mexican side.
Asked what he thought of the draw, especially with Mexico coming first out of the hat, Tshabalala, better known by his nickname of ‘Shabba’ at both Bafana circles and those of his club Kaizer Chiefs, said; “I am happy we drew Mexico in their own backyard and hence we can settle the grudge with them this time around.
“I am confident with the crop and calibre of players we have in the Bafana squad and the new level of development that our football is currently enjoying, I am certain we can win the match against the Mexicans in their own backyard,” said an ever smiling Shabba.
Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele believes the team will not just add numbers in the 2026 Fifa World Cup but will mean business. Photo: Zanele Siso of Zanephoto
Bafana assistant coach Helman Mkhalele, himself a former pivotal squad member of the 1996 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) winning side, said; “Without withstanding the fact that we last played in the world cup in that home tournament, I am confident we will hold our own ground and do the unthinkable in the US co-hosted tournament with Canada and Mexico.
“South African football has developed over the years and the standard and crop of players in the squad has shown great maturity and are raring to go and express themselves in the world cup sphere. I too, as assistant coach, can’t wait to witness the new flair of our football as displayed in the last Afcon games and will further be amplified in the upcoming Afcon in less than a month’s time,” Mkhalele said in an interview.
The homebrewed coach pointed out that Bafana Bafana, as the squad is fondly known, is not going to add numbers in the world cup tournament but instead ‘we’re going there to compete and show how our football has evolved over the years’.
“We may not win the world cup but our presence will be hugely felt, especially with our Belgian mentor and former Afcon 2017 winning coach with Cameroon Hugo Broos, who is also raring to go and exert his expertise there [world cup].
“For starters, we have the Afcon 2025 tournament coming up in less than two weeks time and a win of that tournament will further boost our morale leading up to the world cup. I keep my fingers crossed we do, which will be a feather in our cap after coming third in the previous edition of the tournament,” Mkhalele said.
A 21-year-old football sensation, Mohau Nkota, a former Orlando Pirates who plies his trade in the Saudi Pro League, says Bafana Bafana is ready to shine in the world cup. Photo: Zanele Siso of Zanephoto
A young and highly talented football sensation and former Orlando Pirates player now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, 21-year-old Mohau Nkota, who is also a squad member for the upcoming Afcon, said during an interview that the Bafana squad was ready to go shine in the Afcon in Morocco later this month.
“Once we are done with the Afcon tournament, we shall turn our attention to the world cup and we will show them the kind of stuff that we are made of,” said the youngster who has already made some astounding wonders both in Saudi Arabia and the Bafana team.
One of Bafana Bafana’s leading strikers and member of the 1996 Afcon winning squad, Shaun Bartlett, says the team must aim for the knockout stages of the world cup. Photo: Zanele Siso of Zanephoto
Former Bafana Bafana striker and member of the 1996 Afcon winning squad, Shaun Bartlett, conceded that as much as Bafana may not ultimately win the world cup in the Americas, he was confident they could advance to the knockout stages of the tournament.
“As much as it is too early may be for us to predict winning the world cup, we need to fight hard to ensure we reach the knockout stages of the tournament, and for us, that will be a huge achievement which we can then grow in the future with the intention reaching the finals and may be winning it,” he said.
Bartlett, who’s international professional career included tenures in teams in England, Switzerland and the United States of America, helped Bafana to reach the last 16 stage of the 1998 Fifa World Cup with his goal poaching prowess. “My wish is that we should this time around advance to the knockout stages in the north Americas and even go beyond, and that alone will be a great improvement,” said Bartlett, who’s the second leading Bafana goal scorer of all time behind Benni McCarthy.
Sipho Siso News 
Leave a comment