Amid all the glitz and glamour surrounding Africa’s first World Cup, one thing that has gone completely unnoticed is the performance of the host nation.
Very few tend to remember that by being knocked out in the first round, South Africa became the first host nation in the Cup’s history to be knocked out in the opening round.
And even as the likes of Siphiwe Tshabalala and Katlego Mphela continue to make the most out of their Cup performances, former South African skipper and coach Jomo Sono has lashed out at the home team’s performance.
“There is nothing to celebrate for the Bafana Bafana. They were as bad as they were in 2002, perhaps worse. They could have fared better given the support the team received before the tournament. They were playing as individuals, not a team,” Sono said on Friday.
“There is nothing to be proud of them. When people talk about South Africa 2010 a decade from now, it will be remembered for the host nation bowing out in the first round, nothing else,” he quipped.
Sono, dubbed as the Black Prince of South African football, has a rare distinction of playing alongside Pele while at New York Cosmos.
He pointed out that despite the team getting ample time to prepare for the World Cup finals, they wasted it by day dreaming about the profits that would be made post-World Cup. “South Africa had four months at a stretch to prepare for the World Cup. All other nations had either one or two months. Unfortunately, the focus that time was not on football but on the business part of the game,” Sono said.
He, however, was relieved that South Africa at least managed to register one win, thus avoiding further shame.
Despite that disappointment, Sono is happy with the way things have unfolded during the World Cup and says it has acted as a catalyst to unite all South Africans.
“I can see more white South Africans returning to support local teams instead of supporting English sides as they have done in the past.
“We must keep this momentum going and welcome the white people of our country back into local football which will help stimulate the local game once the World Cup is over.
“To me the biggest bonus of the World Cup is seeing the spirit and a united South Africa. It has been simply brilliant,” he said.
