South Africa’s 1-0 win over South Korea hardly resembled perfection. Certainly not their football. They had 31.5% possession – the lowest ever for a team at a World Cup. A goal in itself is rarely perfect. Goalscorer, Thapelo Maseko’s first touch was much heavier than ideal. His shot was full of venom and spite, but could have been saved if the goalkeeper had positioned himself correctly.
Yet, for all their imperfections, South Africa have qualified for the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a statement you wouldn’t have believed if it had been made so soon after their embarrassing loss to Mexico. This raises an intriguing question: if they were perfect, would they have achieved what they have, becoming the seventh African nation to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup?
Maseko hasn’t exactly had a perfect career so far. I once thought so. He was the youngest player in South Africa’s 2023 AFCON squad. Given his inexperience, many did not expect him to play. Not only that, he also scored a goal. He was also present with his family.
The same competition, however, gave a cruel twist. Maseko ruptured his hamstring and was out of the national team picture for two years. By the time he returned, South Africa had found an alternative and Mamelodi Sundowns FC could offer him little more than a place in their developmental setup. Had he not forced himself to leave the country and join Cypriot side AEL Limassol on loan, Maseko would not have gone to the World Cup.
When the news of his selection came, his mother cried so uncontrollably that an ambulance had to be called.
Sphefelo ‘Yaya’ Sithole’s World Cup campaign has been nothing short of perfect. His error led to the opening goal of the tournament. It was just one of the unwanted firsts associated with his name that day. His red card was also the first in the tournament, and the first since 1994 where the marching order was recorded in an opening encounter.
Sithole assumed his career was over when he fractured both his tibia and fibula. Like Maseko, he lost his place in the national team.
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After recovering, Sithole admitted: “I thought the injury was the end of my career. It was tough mentally because if you get injured, you can’t do anything.”
Today he took off his socks. And we don’t mean this phrase casually. The data backs up the claim — 11.43 kilometers covered, 1.88 kilometers of which are faster; 53 passed, out of which 49 were successful. In all these metrics, it tops the South African charts.
South Africa beat South Korea to advance to the round of 32. (AP)
Coach Hugo Bruce has not had a perfect career either. He was sacked as Cameroon manager just ten months after guiding the nation to their first AFCON title in 15 years. After a disappointing Confederations Cup campaign, FECAFOOT was replaced by Rigobert Song.
His first application to coach South Africa was rejected. SAFA went with Stuart Baxter. In the second attempt, South Africa gave him the reins. Today, he is second only to Ephraim Mashaba in points-per-game among Bafana Bafana managers who spend at least one year in charge.
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Neither of these men is perfect, nor was their game against South Korea. Perhaps, imperfection is something the country has become accustomed to emphasizing. Last year at the White House meeting, the President of the United States Dr Donald Trump Accused South Africa of going “against Atheide”. In his defence, Cyril Ramaphosa tried to make a case as to why the allegations of ‘white genocide’ were false, but he was not heard.
The imbalance of power meant that Ramaphosa was never likely to dominate the conversation. Not against the most powerful man in the world.
But when Bruce was asked the same question – oddly enough, in a pre-match press conference that had nothing to do with politics – he gave a clever answer. “I’ll answer that question,” he said initially. There was silence in the room. Now the Americans were listening. Leaning in. Looking forward to what he has to say. South African media officials may already be preparing contingency statements.
And then came the answer: “My answer is that I will not answer the question.”
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An incomplete South African team is in the knockout stages. And they are under no obligation to explain how they got there.