Fikile not sorry for ‘bunch of losers’ insult
Minister refuses to back down in Bafana bashing
OUTH African soccer is again in turmoil after Bafana Bafana’s elimination from the African Nations Championships in the group stages on Sunday.
Livid Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula branded the national team mediocre and the players “a bunch of losers” yesterday.
Mbalula described the state of football as “a crisis of monumental proportions”.
In the face of criticism from some sections of the public and the DA, he refused to retract his rant about Bafana.
At the same time, the future of coach Gordon Igesund seemed uncertain yesterday, with SA Football Association president Danny Jordaan hinting he could soon be sacked.
“We are facing three challenges: a new technical sponsor; do we need a new name; and, we must review the preparation, philosophy and the technical team,” Jordaan said in Cape Town yesterday, appearing with Mbalula.
Mbalula appeared to lead the charge in the outpouring of public outrage at Bafana’s performance, after they failed at the first hurdle of the championships on home turf by losing 3-1 to Nigeria at the Cape Town Stadium.
“What I saw was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers who don’t have any respect for this country, don’t have any respect for anybody,” said Mbalula, singling out goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs.
“The second goal, the goalkeeper commits a penalty, alone, single-handedly, without being assisted by anybody.
“I love Moeneeb Josephs, but I don’t know what was going on with him. That is a total disgrace, a performance like that. He is a boy from Cape Town and was supposed to
Sshine for the team.
“I’m sure his mother was there. How was he going to explain to her? It was a total disgrace, that performance,” Mbalula added.
Josephs, who replaced injured captain Itumeleng Khune, was close to tears when he spoke to The Star’s sister paper, the Cape Times, and apologised for the blunder that led to Nigeria’s second goal.
“I should have done much better with the second goal. Those things happen in football and I have to deal with it. It’s the worst feeling ever,” Josephs said, fighting back tears.
“But we are all human. It’s the worst thing that can happen, but it’s part of football. I have to grow from this.
“I’m really disappointed that I disappointed the country. But I’m sure that some understand. It’s not my intention to go out and make mistakes.”
The tournament had provided Bafana with an opportunity to redeem themselves after they were booted early from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2010 World Cup – both of which were played on home turf – and their failure to qualify for Brazil.
“Their performance was not even lacklustre, it was useless. That mediocrity that was displayed yesterday, we must never wake up to that again,” Mbalula said, saying it was time to “return to the drawing board”.
“We indeed have a crisis of monumental proportions. We don’t have a crisis of talent, we have a crisis of putting everything together.”
Igesund could not be reached for comment yesterday, but he was quoted as saying he would not quit even in the face of mounting pressure for him to do so.
“From my personal point of view, I had no mandate for this competition; we wanted to be the best we could. I’m at peace where I am at the moment,” Igesund said after the game, reminding his detractors of his record since taking the reins from Pitso Mosimane in June 2012.
“We have played 28 games and won 14 of those games – that is 50 percent. We lost seven and drew seven and, along the way, we have beaten Spain.”
Mbalula’s remarks sparked outrage on Twitter, but he would not withdraw his criticism of Bafana or apologise.
The DA branded his behaviour “utterly disgraceful”.
The party said Mbalula should, as the cabinet minister tasked to ensure that the team received all the support to perform at their optimum level, take responsibility for the loss.
“Perhaps if he spent less time hobnobbing with celebrities (like US world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, over the weekend), he would have more time for his job,” said DA sport spokesman Winston Rabotapi.
Asked for comment, Mbalula’s spokesman Paena Galane said: “There is nothing to withdraw. The country has also had enough of Bafana Bafana’s performance.”