Exclusive: “Bafana Bafana Have Turned a Corner,” says Aaron Mokoena after 5-0 Hammering of Congo
Former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena praises Themba Zwane's brilliance in the 5-0 win over Congo, highlighting the team's resurgence and renewed national support.
Image Credits: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Former Bafana Bafana captain, Aaron Mokoena, praised midfield maestro Themba ‘Mshishi’ Zwane for his creativeness during the Congo fixture in Port Elizabeth.
THE BRILLIANCE OF THEMBA ‘MSHISHI’ ZWANE
HAVING hammered Congo 5-0 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth last week, many have rightfully praised forward Teboho Mokoena for his brace in the first half and have done the same with Bathusi Aubaas, Lyle Forster and Iqraam Rayners for their solitary goals in the encounter.
However, there is a midfield mastermind who deserves just as much credit for his vision and creativity. That is the 35-year-old Themba Zwane, the often quiet and overlooked genius who has set up many Bafana Bafana victories in that midfield.
Despite some calling for his head due to his age, "Mshishi" has proven that he is by far the best creative midfielder in the country, and to be frank, the 35-year-old is in the conversation of the all-time greats in the country's history.
Zwane took his genius to Port Elizabeth and the province of Eastern Cape, a part of South Africa that Bafana Bafana rarely visited or played at.
As a result, the people of the 'Friendly City' came out in numbers to support Bafana Bafana in their Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier fixture against Congo.
In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, former Bafana captain, Aaron Mokoena, lauded Zwane for his performance in the encounter.
We don't have another Mshishi. This boy, he's the only one we have. We can sit here and say that he's old and whatnot, but what he brings to the playing field is on another level. He can see what most cannot see. He can see the passes and spaces some players can't.
Aaron Mokoena
"He's got that speed of thought where he can see these spaces and passes and execute accordingly. He's an exceptional talent," Mokoena told SportsBoom.com.
"The Congo game was the type of game where we took control from the beginning to the end. As a coach, I always emphasise that 'you shut the back door, the rest will happen,' the guys did that fantastically. Winning 5-0 at home, especially in a province that we haven't been to in a very long time, was absolutely encouraging.
"It was a great game to watch. It was one of those games in which every player was available, every player turned up. That was the Bafana that we always wanted to see."
EARNING BACK THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNTRY
Since Bafana reached the semi-finals and finished third in Cote d'Ivoire during the AFCON earlier this year, the country has given the team their support once again.
This is after the country almost ignored the national team for several years as the team kept producing poor results and performances.
With the four-time World Rugby Champions, the Springboks, having set a perfect example for all sporting codes in the country, Bafana Bafana seem to be on the same trajectory having mathematically qualified for the next AFCON with relative ease.
"I'm quite confident that we have turned the corner. This team went to the AFCON and came out third. The boys have been winning games. Right now, the boys have raised the bar and have shown that they are hungry for support just as much as the Springboks do," said Mokoena.
"They have shown people that they can be able to win games and also entertain in the process. We are now at the stage where we have the whole country behind us, but we know that we have to win the AFCON and qualify for the World Cup again.
"Mathematically, the boys have qualified for the AFCON, which tells you that we are now getting back to being the best in Africa or one of the best in Africa."
"They have shown people that they can be able to win games and also entertain in the process. We are now at the stage where we have the whole country behind us, but we know that we have to win the AFCON and qualify for the World Cup again.
"Mathematically, the boys have qualified for the AFCON, which tells you that we are now getting back to being the best in Africa or one of the best in Africa."
Ongama Gcwabe is an experienced Sports Journalist based in South Africa. In his career, Ongama’s work has been published in the country’s biggest newspapers company, Independe Newspapers, and some of the leading news and sports websites including IOL Sport.