Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo has praised the team and Teboho Mokoena after they earned their first point at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup in America.
Hugo Broos’ men came from a goal down to earn a penalty that saw them score their first goal at the tournament and their first since 2010, their last appearance.
Despite the point, Bafana stayed at the bottom of Group A after two matches, but have bettered their chances to progress to the second round in the 48-team event.
They will await the outcome of the match between tournament co-hosts Mexico and Korea Republic on Friday morning to see final placings before the deciding pool matches next Thursday.
Meanwhile Khumalo said for Mokoena, who will miss the last group match against the Koreans due to suspension, to step up in a crucial moment is big.
“We need to give credit to all these boys they’ve done very well and also Tebza [Teboho Mokoena],” said Khumalo on SABC3
“Because it’s not easy to take that penalty, a crucial penalty and this man stood up, he made us proud.
“But I think South Africa can build from this because which other country can make us play like this, the best in the world, we have to prepare ourselves.
“We are such an unfortunate country because we don’t have the scouts that come and take 10 to 20 of the players to Europe. So we need to have a programme that talks to the players like the Rele Mofokengs.
“Mofokeng probably should have been able to play with the U23s from England and in England, not in South Africa because this where now we are going to be playing the way we did, we don’t lose our DNA.
“We don’t lose who we are because there’s a reason why this Czech team is going to have ice baths after the game. I’m telling you they are headed to ice baths.”