Proteas women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi.
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Proteas Women’s coach Mandla Mashimbyi is hoping Bafana Bafana provide the inspiration for his team ahead of their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup opener against Australia in Manchester on Saturday.
Bafana face hosts Mexico in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener in Mexico City on Thursday evening (kick-off 9pm SA time), with the entire nation backing them to produce an upset.
Mashimbyi believes Bafana and his Proteas Women face similar scenarios, as they are both underdogs.
“I think we're sitting [in] the same boat, really, because nobody's giving Bafana Bafana a chance to cause an upset or actually get through the group stages,” Mashimbyi said.
“But I think we bring a different type of football, and it's something that people are not accustomed to. And I really think that we might cause an upset. So I'm giving it a 1-0 win. Worst-case scenario, a draw.”
Furthermore, he believes if Bafana are able to get the job done at the Estadio Azteca, it will provide a huge lift to his team, who are chasing a third consecutive T20 World Cup final appearance in the UK.
“Yeah, I think if Bafana Bafana gets a win today and we get a win on Saturday, that would be good for our country,” he said.
“And I think if they do get a win today, it would just maybe lift the girls in some way or another.
“But I think [leaving] a legacy is probably the main thing for us — making sure that we continue to want to inspire the country in any way we can when we have opportunities.
“And in the sport that we're in, we actually get those opportunities more often than not. And we just have to make sure that we're dialled in, and make sure that we go out there and give it our all.”