President Cyril Ramaphosa’s promise of a public holiday if Bafana Bafana wins the Fifa World Cup is seen as wild unrealistic, given their history and challenging group in the expanded 48-team format. Seen here: SA President Cyril Ramaphosa (left) and Bafana Bafana keeper Ronwen Williams. Picture: Jairus Mmutle/GCIS
Image: Jairus Mmutle/GCIS
I understand getting behind your team, being patriotic and being confident about the task ahead, but for President Cyril Ramaphosa to suggest Bafana Bafana have any chance of winning the Fifa World Cup is simply ridiculous.
As the Bafana squad for the tournament was announced in Pretoria on Wednesday evening, Ramaphosa promised South Africa a public holiday if his troops won the Fifa World Cup. “I will be there when you lift the trophy on July 19, and I will gladly declare it a public holiday,” Ramaphosa said. “So, South Africans, you can be sure that another unexpected holiday is coming.”
Of course, the reason he could make such an empty promise is that Bafana have close to zero chance of achieving that feat. The 73-year-old Ramaphosa probably learned that trick many, many years ago in politics 101.
For starters, Bafana have never advanced beyond the group stage of the Fifa World Cup in the three editions they’ve contested.
This time around though, with the format expanded to 48 teams, there’s a better chance for every side to make it through to the round of 32.
Drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, Korea Republic, and Czechia, they will have their work cut out to finish in the top two to automatically advance. They may have to rely on being one of the eight best third-placed finishers who will also book a ticket to the next round.
However, finishing bottom of their group is an all-too-real possibility, and despite this tournament being the first Fifa World Cup South Africa has qualified for since the 2002 edition (2010 they gained automatic entry as hosts).
As much as Bafana have achieved by making it to the event, actually performing on the biggest stage may be a bridge too far. Let’s just hope I’m dreadfully wrong.
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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