Daily Sun (January 21 2014) - A BUNCH of losers! This is how Fikile Mbalula described Bafana Bafana after the team lost to Nigeria in the African Nations Championship.
THE SPORTS MINISTER DESCRIBED THE TEAM AS A DISGRACE TO THE NATION.
Bafana failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of CHAN, crashing out of the tournament with a disastrous 3-1 loss to Nigeria in Cape Town on Sunday.
Mbalula was spitting fire on Sunday. He could not sugar-coat his disappointment and took a swipe at the players, calling them a USELESS BUNCH OF LOSERS.
He said it was beyond his comprehension how the players could not perform at their best against Nigeria.
He said even Madiba Magic would not have helped them.
"Some of the players think it is their right to be in the team.
"This generation of players we must forget.
"They don't respect their parents, their girlfriends and the nation. There is a need for a new generation of players as the current crop doesn't respect the country. Brazil did it when they got rid of players like Kaka, so why can't we? Some of them have been there before and have never won anything. They must make way," said Mbalula.
The minister said South African football had a serious problem.
"We indeed have a crisis of monumental proportions, and this tournament has proved that. The mediocrity we saw on Sunday night is disgraceful.
"Last night we saw a bunch of losers who conceded two useless goals. We must never wake up to this situation ever again."
But Mbalula refused to point fingers at coach Gordon Igesund. He said there was a need for a holistic review of South African football as a whole, not just Bafana.
"Let's not jump at one man. Safa must look at this thoroughly. Gordon is not the only problem in the team. If we were united, Danny Jordaan (Safa president) would not have spent sleepless nights negotiating for the release of players. We should have fielded our best team for the tournament, not a mediocre team."
"I felt like standing up and just walking out."
Mbalula did not spare goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs any mercy, saying he should be ashamed of himself after gifting Nigeria two goals.
"I love Moeneeb but I don't know what was going on in his head. He was playing in Cape Town in front of his home supporters and I am sure even his family was there, but what he did was unthinkable.
"Some of the goals he let in I could have saved. He reminded me of that player we got from France, Pierre Issa, who scored two own goals."
Jordaan said they were going to review the technical team, the name of the team and the kit sponsor in the next few weeks.
The DA's Winston Rabotapi has called on Mbalula to stop making irresponsible remarks and apologise.
See the Daily Sun mobi site for more on this and other stories....
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