Bhele has no regrets … only grateful to have lifted spirits
Experienced striker recalls 2010 World Cup
The irony will not be lost on the discerning Bafana Bafana fan that the team’s most experienced striker was given a mere 23 minutes’ play during the 2010 World Cup.
Granted, there’s no guarantee that had Siyabonga Nomvethe played in more than that final third of the last group match against France, Bafana would have fared any better than their first-round exit.
But when you have a seasoned campaigner who holds the distinction of being responsible for South Africa’s solitary World
Cup victory, then surely you should give him more opportunity.
Carlos Alberto Parreira did not see it that way though, and the man who was not only the sole sticker with World Cup experience in the squad but was the one whose goal earned Bafana their one victory at the 2002 tournament in Korea/japan was left to twiddle his thumbs on the bench for first two matches and most of the last.
Even when Bafana needed to beat France at a canter in that final match, Parreira did not see the need for Nomvethe’s experience. The “play it safe” coach he is, the Brazilian brought Bhele on late against Les Bleus in a “like for like” substitution that saw Bernard Parker go off with Bafana 2-0 to the good.
A three-pronged strike force inclusive of Katlego Mphela would have made more sense for a team needing to score goals by the bagful to stand a chance of progressing.
Looking back at the tournament though, Nomvethe is just pleased to have been there and gotten the chance to play.
“On reflection, I really was blessed to have played at two World Cups. The 2010 one in particular was great because it was here at home. It was an honour to be a part of the 23 [players in the squad]. Yes, I didn’t play a lot of games but I am not complaining because everyone who was used [in the squad] played their hearts out for the team,” says Bhele.
But you were much more experienced Bhele, surely you deserved better? “The coaches always know what is best for the team. Against Uruguay, coach Parreira was planning to bring me on. But then he realised that we were really losing the game in the midfield, so he brought on Surprise [Moriri for Reneilwe Letsholonyane] instead of me. It was all tactical.”
Given his success as a player, Nomvethe, who still plays in the first division for Uthongathi, has
If you work hard and give it your all, success always comes your way
no regrets. “If you work hard and give it your all, success always comes. I played to lift the spirit of the supporters.”
Many who wanted to watch him play in 2010 were left disappointed he was given such little time on the pitch.