South Africa’s national football association did not become a member of Fifa until 1992 – when the last vestiges of the apartheid regime were finally being swept away. Consequently they haven’t had as much experience as others on the international stage, but in their brief soccer history, Bafana Bafana (as the national team are affectionately known) have made big strides.
In 1996 they hosted the African Cup of Nations for the first time and finished as champions. Two years later they qualified for their first World Cup appearance in France, and although failing to qualify from the group stage, they came away with two draws and just one defeat.
In 2002 Bafana Bafana went to the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, but once again failed to advance from their group due to goal difference. They did however manage to get their first win on the biggest stage of them all by beating Slovenia 1-0.
Now playing host to the biggest sporting event on the planet, they will be aiming to make a big impression on the tournament. Under the guidance of former Brazilian World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, the task ahead will not be an easy one.
In a group along with France, Uruguay and Mexico, it would take a brave person to pick the two teams who will advance to the knockout stages. South Africa will probably start all three games as underdogs, but playing on home soil should give them an advantage.
This edge was evident at the Fifa Confederations Cup in South Africa last summer, when they were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Brazil in the semi-final – the goal coming two minutes from full-time. In the third place play-off, they lost 3-2 to European Champions Spain after extra time.
Key players who look certain to make the 23-man squad for the World Cup are Steven Pienaar, MacBeth Sibaya and Bernard Parker.
Pienaar had a very good season at midfield with Everton, chipping in with a few goals as well. Fellow midfielder Sibaya is with Rubin Kazan in Russia, and while a bit player in their league, his team did manage to beat Barcelona in the Nou Camp in the Champions League group stages. Parker, meanwhile, is with Dutch league winners FC Twente, making 25 appearances and scoring twice.
South Africa’s first match will be the curtain-raiser against Mexico on 11 June. Next up will be Uruguay and then the final group game against France, where many Irish fans will be hoping for plenty of French misery after Henry’s infamous handball.
