Reflection:
The World Cup is over. South Africans are happy about the tournament if not the results of the Bafana Bafana, although we are proud of the team. South Africa beat France but failed to qualify for the last 16 at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. ‘Kenako’ is an African expression that means: ‘Now is the time.’ South Africa had a plan – a good one – that began over a decade ago with an African-born coach (there were only two at Africa’s World Cup), Carlos Queiroz.

The plan was to learn modern methods on the job, training the next generation of local coaches on the job by giving them experience. I was one of those coaches, but football is an impatient business on and off the field. There were some who thought that they were ready to lead the national team then and did their best to undermine Queiroz. He did comparatively well at the African Cup of Nations in spite of it and was sacked. [1] It happened again under Carlos Alberto Parreira.[2]

A good plan was wasted and we became the first host nation to fail to make it out of the group stage. We were a bit unlucky, but that is no excuse. It is time for the South African Football Association (SAFA) to sit back and ponder over their inefficient football development programmes and their lingering hangovers that remain from the birth of the Rainbow nation and our taste for miracles. We always pray for a miracle to happen and save our inadequacies.

Miracles:

The minor miracle of drawing with Mexico in the opening game begat expectations that it would be followed by another: a win against Uruguay. Sorry, the Vuvusela did not work this time round. A case in point was the country’s reaction, including the fat cats of the SAFA, to the loss against Uruguay.

There seemed to be a genuine shock that a team ranked 83rd in the world lost to one positioned sixty-seven places above them. We thought that we could beat them irrespective of their past reputations: Uruguay won the cup twice and Diego Forlán was twice European Golden Boot winner and obviously winner of La Pichichi in Spain. He also went on to win the Golden Ball in our World Cup.

They were better than us and by some distance and canny too. Luis Suárez knew enough to trip over our keeper to win a penalty and get our number one goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune sent off. Suárez would later demonstrate his own goalkeeping skills by making the most important save of the whole tournament.

Nevertheless, we allowed our expectations to delude us about the realities of the opposition in our group and the lack of foresight that left us in this position. A miracle against France was also hoped for and it nearly materialised after leading by two goals to nil in the first half. It didn’t last. France, in complete disarray under Raymond Domenech imploded in South Africa, but still found a consolation goal that extinguished our hopes. Meanwhile, Uruguay and Mexico played an exciting match despite only needing a draw.

“Bafana Bafana is out of the World Cup, but they won the hearts and minds of all South Africans and the whole world,” said 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa (OC) CEO Dr Danny Jordaan after South Africa’s final group stage match against France in Mangaung/ Bloemfontein.

South Africa won the match but it was not enough for the host nation to progress past the group stage of the tournament. “Yes they did not make it past the group stage but they did what the country asked of them,” said Jordaan. “They played with pride, passion, skill and commitment. They gave their best. They did the national team jersey and every single South African proud and we want to thank them for what they’ve done for this country.” The same can not be said about the French opposition who in turn disgraced their nation and left a bitter taste in many South Africans mouths, not to mention the world.

Jordaan also thanked South Africans for the tremendous support they have shown for the South African team. “The passion and enthusiasm we have seen across the length and breadth of South Africa in recent weeks has made this tournament truly come alive for locals and visitors alike,” he said. Jordaan does not believe that South Africa’s exit affected the overall success of the tournament. While it didn’t help, South Africans had waited too long for this party to allow anything to ruin it. Party poopers need not return.