WeeklySA_AdminRise: The team must rise anew and take their rightful place at the highest echelons of world football…
By Monk Nkomo
The Bafana Bafana squad selected to represent South Africa at the FIFA World Cup comprised ambassadors whose diversity and that of the technical team, was a reminder to the world that in our constitutional democracy , there was room and opportunity for all to realise their potential and teamwork.
These remarks were made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the Bafana Bafana send-off dinner at the Union Buildings in Pretoria this week before the team’s departure to the USA at the weekend.
‘’We gather here to declare boldly and with great pride: Bafana Bafana has done it. Bafana Bafana is back. Stronger. Focused. Fearless. Hungrier. The people of South Africa have waited a long time for this moment. We have been behind our team in the stadiums, in our homes and in our hearts. As a team, you have already made history by qualifying for the first time in more than twenty years.’’
The President was optimistic that the squad would be successful and boldly announced : ‘’ Now we want to see you lift that trophy. Asifuni group stage. Asifuni knockout rounds. Asifuni ukuzwa the words ‘elimination’ or ‘bowing out.’ You are bringing the FIFA World Cup trophy home.’’
Ramaphosa added that the country had seen the immense potential of sport to inspire and unite the country. Time and again they had witnessed South Africans from all walks of life rallying behind South Africa’s sportsmen and women as they competed on the international stage. This time would be no different.
He expected to be inundated with calls to declare a public holiday every time the team progressed to the next round.
It has been a long journey to get to this point, where the team was jetting off to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It has been a difficult road, with lots of challenges.
‘’What has seen us through is the unwavering commitment of SAFA, government, the football clubs and associations and sponsors to invest in, develop and strengthen South African football over the course of many years. We owe everyone involved a debt of gratitude for not only developing this sport, but of uniting a nation’’.
Ramaphosa promised the squad that when they arrive in Mexico City, they would be carrying with them the dreams of more than 60 million South Africans.
‘’We are with you, behind you and beside you all the way. Bafana Bafana are our emissaries of hope and the standard-bearers of the national flag. The diversity of our squad and technical team is a reminder to the world that in our constitutional democracy there is room and opportunity for all to realise their potential and fulfil their dreams’’.
As ambassadors for South Africa, the country was counting on the team to put fully into practice what their years of training had prepared them for: sportsmanship, camaraderie, professionalism and teamwork.
Yet sport is about so much more. How the game was played reflected the values of the society itself. Values like integrity, humility, respect, tolerance and inclusivity. History had presented Bafana Bafana with this opportunity to rise anew and to take their rightful place at the highest echelons of world football. He urged the team to seize this opportunity and do even more than their best. He wished the team the very best as they headed off to the tournament.
‘’I will be there when you lift the trophy on the 19th of July. And, yes, I will declare it a public holiday. May you have wind in your sails, steel in your veins and thunder in your boots.’’
