Masinga: Boo boys can break a player
Furman latest Bafana player to be put on spot
For any player, representing their country is an honour but for some they probably question themselves whether they deserve to be selected or not.
Imagine scoring a goal that takes your country to the World Cup for the first time and getting booed in the next match. This is Phil Masinga’s story 20 years ago.
For “Chippa”, who played 58 times and scored 18 goals for the national team, he was always reminded by the boo boys that he wasn’t worthy of the national team shirt.
“It was tough. It was killing me,” said Masinga. “I couldn’t even buy newspapers anymore because I didn’t want to see what they would be writing or saying about me.
“It first happened with Augustine Makalakalane in 1996 when he was booed for playing in white boots. I was there; after Augustine they started attacking me in 1997.”
Masinga’s argument is that not every player selected is going to be liked by fans.
Current Bafana midfielder Dean Furman’s continuous selection has always been questioned, though some believe he’s a “hard worker” who deserves his place in the side.
It’s of course easier said than done to say players must ignore the boos and focus on their game, but Masinga said that’s the only option as a footballer who carries the nation’s hopes.
“Since my retirement I’ve met with some people who would tell me, ‘I used to boo you, but I don’t know why I was booing you’. So, some boo you because others are booing you, they are basically going with the crowd. You shouldn’t take such things to heart,” Masinga stated.
“I remember at some stage Wellington Manyathi of Kaizer Chiefs had a hostile relationship with the fans, but he soldiered on and they ended up calling him ‘Umuntu akalahlwa’. So eventually, the fans understand that you are doing your best.
“The players and the coach [Clive Barker] were behind me. Clive always said, ‘Put on cotton wool in your ears’,” added Masinga, who played in England for Leeds United and later on at Bari in Italy.