Bafana Bafana’s historic FIFA World Cup run deserved every bit of their heroes’ welcome, despite critics who continue to dismiss one of the greatest achievements in South African football history. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
As I attended the welcome party at OR Tambo International in the early hours of Thursday morning, I was once again struck by the pride and excitement shared by South African football fans as they welcomed Bafana Bafana home after their historic run at the FIFA World Cup.
Hordes of fans packed the international arrivals hall to celebrate the team’s historic FIFA World Cup campaign. Supporters began gathering long before the squad’s scheduled 5.30am arrival, eager to catch a glimpse of the history-making Bafana side.
When the squad finally emerged at around 7.30am, fans gave them a true heroes’ welcome.
Bafana became the first South African team to reach the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup before being cruelly eliminated by co-hosts Canada in stoppage time of their Round of 32 clash on June 28.
It was a similar scene to the one that greeted Bafana in 2023 when they returned from the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a bronze medal after finishing third. It was the first time in 23 years they had reached the podium at Afcon.
There is no question that South African football has been on the rise since Hugo Broos took over in 2021. While it seems likely the 74-year-old will soon bring his coaching career to an end, given his age, the foundation he has built is immeasurable.
Yet, as I read through the comments on one of my stories about the heroes’ welcome Bafana received, the usual tired and predictable responses floated to the surface like a turd in the polluted Hennops River.
Responding to IOL News’ Facebook post about Bafana’s arrival, Maryann Walters wrote: “Why a heros [sic] welcome, they won one game not the world cup.”
Roelof van der Merwe said: “At least give them a participation certificate.”
Meanwhile, Brent Webber wrote: “top 32 is a historic event that wont happen again because they are not a rainbow nation team with a quota system. wait i forgot they did have a historic event 3 red cards in the very 1st opening game of the fifa world cup”
The rhetoric from some corners of social media remains much the same. Although I do wish some of those critics had come to the airport to voice their grievances in person. They would, of course, have been drowned out by the singing, cheering and blaring vuvuzelas, and nobody would have even noticed them.
Still, these are the kinds of people who stand out as they furiously hammer away at their keyboards to tell everyone what they think of Bafana.
Before the World Cup even started, I wrote a column titled: “Springbok and Proteas supporters unite – why Bafana need your backing most of all.”
I wrote then: “Even if Bafana were to pull off a massive shock at the FIFA World Cup and progress beyond the group stage, it’s still unlikely they will command major support back home in anything like the same way as the Springboks or Proteas.”
That piece was directed mainly at the typical rugby or cricket supporter who is too quick to dismiss Bafana’s achievements. And even though they did pull off that shock, it still seems it was not enough for the minority who will never truly feel pride in this team.
Football is the most popular sport in South Africa. It is also the most widely played and watched sport in the world. By sheer weight of numbers, it is arguably the most competitive sport on the planet.
For all those reasons, what Bafana achieved at this World Cup was both historic and worthy of celebration. The progress they have made under Broos is undeniable. But for some people, that is simply a conclusion they will never be willing to reach.
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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