Such Positive Energy In Bafana Camp!
May 25, 2010 by Brown Shuga
Aaah man, what a pleasure watching the boys last night against Bulgaria. (minus the minutes after Siphiwe, Letsholonyane, Teko and Sangweni were subtituted).
The game ended as 1 All draw but I don’t think anyone is complaining about the perfomance.
I know Mbazo doesn’t like us referring to them as local based and overseas based but it was very interesting that the first half was that exciting, just with just local based players in the field.
I don’t know what it is Parreira has been doing to or with these guys but I’m happy with the result and I’m very positive about us going into this World Cup.
I definitely don’t think that we’ll be a walk over…
One of my happiest “bafana related” moments was when Steven Pienaar joined the team last week. Aaaah, so cool to know that everyone is there and there’s no drama or anything. A little sad that Andile Jali will miss the tournament due to his heart condition though but the good news is that it won’t stand in the way of him carrying on with his career…
So over the weekend I paid a visit to the Bafana Camp to go check up on the boys and I was really happy to see just how positive they seem to be about the upcoming World Cup. The guys I spoke to all expressed howthey wouldn’t be bothered if they were left out of the final 23 Man squad (lies of course) and that they were more concerned that a balanced and successful team will be selected to take us into the tourney.
I spoke to Bongani Khumalo:
He gives the standard answers… actually football players are SO boring to interview… Firstly, they don’t look you in the eye, lol secondly if you’ve interviewed one, you’ve interviewed all of them, they always say the same thing. Think about the post match interviews, when last did you hear something you have never heard before? It’s always “if it wasn’t for my team mates… the coach told us to give our best…I just wanna concentrate on the league…..” yawn!
Anyway, I had to ask Bongani to stop tryna be so politically correct with his answers… I’ll have to listen to the recording again to tell you what he said *yawn* but basically he’s sad about Morgan Gould having to miss the WC and he’ll be happy with whatever decision the coach makes regarding the final list of players.
Siyabonga Nomvethe almost made me cry… I have never met such a humble and inspiring soul. After all the ups and downs he has been through, he was the most positive/optimistic of the lot and wouldn’t even be drawn in answering my question about which team he would support if we don’t make it past the first round. Bhele says that Bafana will beat Mexico and he wants his name to be on the scoresheet if he’s still in the team come 11 June.
I think what made me so emotional about him is because I’m one of the people who wrote him off. I remember laughing at a statement that he made about still having hopes to be in the national team. I thought he was out of his mind. Just goes to show, we don’t know half as much as we think we do.
Bernard Parker said something which made me go “tjo”… basically he “phoxa’d” me and now that I think about it, that question, which I shall not mention, was such a stupid question to ask lol. Tjo.
Speaking about Benni, Bernard says that he’s happy to be playing alongside Benni and is happy with his inclusion in the team. He says that Benni’s presence alone is great motivation to the team but also says no one is guaranteed a place in the final team, anything can happen. He also added that whatever happens, he’ll be cool with the decision.
I hope the next time I see Bernard I won’t be subjected to those handshakes… when he greeted me hello, and another one when he said goodbye.. LOL hayi… where is he from? haha he seemed like a well mannered kid though and he was nice enough to switch my recorder on and off coz my hands were all shaky… don’t know why.
Also had time to chat to Teko and Siphiwe … I can’t seriously interview these two… so it could only be a chat. Siphiwe mentioned though that his performance wasn’t quite where he wanted to be. I couldn’t ask for more but hey, if he says he can give more than what he’s giving then who are we to stop him! Just make the circle beega bra!
And finally… Finally… I got to meet Benni McCarthy. The first thing I said was… “he’s not fat”, why have they been lying to us? He’s not exactly tiny but not as fat as we’ve been hearing either.
I watched and listened to him answer questions about this and that and for the first time, I saw him as just a guy. A normal person. There was something about the expression in his face that made my heart break. Like someone who was in pain and pleading for acceptance. Forget what he’s done in the past when his career were all bright but look at the position he’s in right now, you are bound to feel sorry for him. All the negativity he has to deal with?
Yes, most of it he created for himself but yazi at the end of the day he’s a human being and he gets hurt and that’s why I felt so bad about whatever negative comments I may have made about him in the past. I can’t make you all see him in the same way I see him now but I’m just sharing my current view…
Oh, and the only thing I asked Benni was whether he tweets, he said he doesn’t tweet he BBMs so if you see a Benni McCarthy on Twitter it’s not him.
And LOL @ all the moms who camp at the hotel reception with their kids waiting for the players to come out and sign their jerseys heheh.
Bafana Match Schedule:
May 27th – Soccer City against Columbia . 20:30,
05 June – Super Stadium Denmark
Tickets are R40 at computicket.
Lela on Tue, 25th May 2010 3:11 am
Lol,Siyabonga every toungue that was raised against u has been condemned. Shem i cnt look @Benni and not laugh afta that make d jersey beega pic. Guys not that im addict like that but i have a severe case of insomnia so i just have 2 check ke.
Madala on Tue, 25th May 2010 5:23 am
So twas 1 all draw…. I em glad I slept!
Siya-progressa ke phofu olohlotyana… 1st we beat severe jet-leg fatigued Jamaica, then we progress to beat the hel out of miniature-seized players of Thai
…and now we r begining 2 draw with reasonably strong opponents..! Hayi it helped 2 start by killing an already dead rate (Jamaica) in order 4 us 2 gain confidence in “rat-killing tactics”….
Let me pray 4 the opening match… that Mexico rat is so so alive & strong
…. just saying nje
LOL on yo views on Benni… uxolela kwangoko wena yaz… uyingelosi yenene…tl tl tl
Pjay on Tue, 25th May 2010 7:48 am
Everytym i watch the boys i get more & more excited…bulgaria were worthy opponents & last nyt they were forced to defend deep coz the boys were coming on strong…parreira did a damn good job on them! Cant wait to see schillo play tho! Nomvete’s had a great season,&he plays with heart…we definately need his experience up-front! So sad about Jali tho…but hey,his health must come 1st! Tekos definately getting his ‘swag’ back…and i luv it!! As for benni,if even the players think he shud be there,then maybe he shud….they need all motivation possible! Da last thing we need is another teko situation,where we kill our own players with our words,instead of motivating them!
makgotso on Tue, 25th May 2010 8:10 am
Bafana Bafana played very well,waiting for letter of complain from body corporate,woza thursday l will be screaming live estadium. coach please faka uBenni toe
sk on Tue, 25th May 2010 8:33 am
Well done to Bafana Bafana u made de circle bigga izolo U showed dem gore we nt a small team 2 walk ova & Perreira is doin a great job so far ….
Kuhle on Tue, 25th May 2010 8:33 am
Oh Oh Oh My Gaaaaaad, you know yesterday i was very very certain that we shall beat Mexico, whethet you believeit or not… You can see that the boys have this drive ethi “We are not going to let our Nation down” something inside of them has changed and i believe this time around they are doing it for themselves and the pride of the nation, Not money and not Fame… they just want to make us proud .
Oh Teko, Teko, Teko boy you are back with the bang, the combination of you and Simphiwe, just make my ego grow bigger … Oh My Gosh let mesubmit my leave form
Im so happy with their perfomance, they have improved and drastically is the adjective to describe their improvement.. Kuhle is happy my boys
Kuhle on Tue, 25th May 2010 8:40 am
and oh Bulgaria is ranked number 39 in the world what what
No wonder im so happy
Kazisongo on Tue, 25th May 2010 8:53 am
Halala Bafana halala!Whatever the coach did with the boys in the camps, I like it its paying dividends. Its gonna be interesting to see who will make the final squad. I don’t wish to be in the technical team right now.
J-Girl aka MsGreat on Tue, 25th May 2010 9:58 am
Good perfomance indeed last nite
Bruised Ego on Tue, 25th May 2010 10:08 am
Now I have high hopes for Bafana Bafana!!
I believe that they will do us proud next month!!
Cinnabon on Tue, 25th May 2010 10:17 am
@Lela, when you feel the need to explain yourself then you are certainly an addict…*or kanjani Soul Sista*…LOL!
Cinnabon on Tue, 25th May 2010 10:19 am
Show Dem Bafana, Show Dem!
Edgar DS on Tue, 25th May 2010 10:54 am
Go Bafana , Go Bafana.I have faith in the boys, I know they will do well ..they will do it like Africans, shoe shine and piano,tsamaya,shibobo,Kungwane
Mochaki on Tue, 25th May 2010 1:04 pm
watching the boys on thursday! Can’t wait.
PNI-girlz on Tue, 25th May 2010 4:59 pm
Bravo 2 Sangweni and da rest of da Bafana team…so,so proud of them, I’m behind u…all da way.(singing)So wave da flag, wave da flag
The Sportlite on Wed, 26th May 2010 8:44 am
What I saw on Monday was encouraging…looking forward to seeing more signs of improvement against Colombia. whatever happens – we can’t really comment much until it’s do or die on the 11th of June – that’s when the real test starts.
Mexico lost by 3-1 against England on Monday – but damn I saw a chunk of the repeat yesterday afternoon…they are too dangerous.
Still on Mexico – as soon as we’ve beaten them in the opening match – I have to get myself one of their tops…their kit is too swell!
Keep the spirit going Bafana – we believe in you!
Mogwanthi on Wed, 26th May 2010 9:31 am
I was also impressed on monday shame, is it possible to sue Santana?
Kuhle on Wed, 26th May 2010 9:41 am
I have Thurday’s ticket … itso gonna be a mission waking up on Friday, but i need to do this .. Im so impressed im not even thinking straight …LOL
Brown Shuga on Wed, 26th May 2010 11:52 am
Lol why r we suing Santana? Please remind me Mogwanthi
Twin on Wed, 26th May 2010 12:04 pm
If only positive energy won games….
But it’s a start definitely. We just need to beat Mexico (First game is too important)and draw with the other 2.
Mogwanthi on Wed, 26th May 2010 3:48 pm
For not delivering?
Kuhle on Fri, 28th May 2010 8:38 am
WOW, what a game and what a vibe in the stadium…. Im so Fevad with the world cup….
Lady gaga on Fri, 28th May 2010 8:51 am
SMH