The Boys do the country proud

24 June 2010

THE spirited performance of Bafana Bafana in their last World Cup group match against France has been praised by Executive Mayor Calvin Seerane.

Mogale City celebrates: Executive Mayor Calvin Seerane and Speaker Noluthando Mangole at the public viewing area in Tarlton

The South African national team continued France's woes by giving them a 2-1 drubbing at a packed Vodacom Park Free State Stadium in Mangaung on 22 June.

"I've not seen Bafana Bafana playing so well and fighting that hard in the past two years. Many South Africans felt their passion and hung on in there until the last minute," said the jubilant mayor. "The country did not qualify for the next round but the team did us proud.

"We need to take into cognisance that Bafana Bafana were pitted against three football nations that are among the top 20 in the FIFA rankings. That we lost on goal average means that we were also in the reckoning as a country," he said.

"It is a proud moment for all of us. We will continue to support them at home in the future. Meanwhile, let us enjoy the rest of the World Cup campaigns in our country."

Bafana Bafana worked hard against a relentless Mexico in the opening match on 11 June and earned a point in a one-all draw. The team then succumbed to a 3-0 walloping by fancied winners of the World Cup, Uruguay.

In the last group match, the South African goal poacher, Katlego Mashego, hit the goal post twice before winning a goalmouth scramble to score their second goal in the 37th minute. This goal was preceded by a brave header from Bongani Khumalo in the 20th minute. France took 70 minutes to reply to Bafana Bafana after their irrepressible substitute Florent Malouda profited from a second's lapse in concentration in the South African defence to slot one home unmarked.

Mashego was nominated Man of the Match.

The victory, sadly, was not enough for Bafana Bafana to secure a berth in the knock out stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. Mexico and Bafana Bafana are second in Group A with equal points, but Mexico qualifies for the next round with a better goal difference.

France, whose World Cup campaign was plagued by controversy and marred by internal politics before qualification and during the group matches, came last and left South Africa the day after their loss to Bafana with bowed heads, bruised egos and the only coach fired during this World Cup.

"Who would have thought this is how magnanimous South Africans would be even when they did not qualify?" concluded the mayor, pointing to crowds blowing their vuvuzelas hard after the match at the public viewing area at Nelson Mandela Hall in Tarlton, where he watched the Bafana Bafana game with Mogale City's municipal manager, Dan Mashitisho.

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