Ebrahim Boomgaard is a senior manager within Sport Support Services at the University of Johannesburg.
He recently penned an opinion article.
South Africans are globally renowned for being among the most passionate sporting people on earth. We are a nation that will gladly lose our voices, our Sundays, and our minds for any of our national teams. So, when Bafana Bafana booked their ticket to the FIFA World Cup in North America, Mexico and Canada, you would have expected the entire country to erupt into a multi-coloured frenzy of vuvuzelas and unbridled joy.
Alas, the response to our participation in the global showpiece has been underwhelming, to say the least. The vibe across the country is currently giving less “World Cup Fever” and more “unsolicited text from your network provider.” The lack of visible excitement across racial lines is, frankly, worrying. Where is the flavour, Mzansi?
Nostalgia vs. The current quiet
To understand how bizarre this quietness is, we only need to look at our history. Since the dawn of democracy, South Africa has qualified for the global showpiece just three times: France ’98, Korea-Japan 2002, and as the iconic hosts of 2010. Who can forget that day on June 11, 2010, when Soccer City was packed to the rafters in celebration of that Phil Masinga rocket which booked our ticket to the 1998 edition in France.
- During those years, the build-up wasn’t just palpable – it was inescapable. Now, all the spectacle is conspicuous by its absence. From the kaleidoscope of brightly coloured merchandise such uniquely branded soccer balls that were permanent fixtures under people’s arms, to the catchy Siyaya eJapan jingle lived rent-free in everyone’s heads and more popular Soccer Fridays that became holy weekly rituals. Where are the corporate CEOs and street vendors who shed their usual attire to kit themselves out in the bright gold and green, Mzansi?
Fast forward to this year’s tournament across Mexico, Canada, and the United States, and the texture of the excitement is… thin. It’s visible here and there, sure, but it feels like we’re whispering when we should be screaming.
The great Mzansi mystery: Where is the gees?
For a country anchored on the beautiful values of Unity in Diversity, this distinct lack of public hype begs a few heavy questions. What is putting a dampener on our signature gees?
Is it the ongoing immigration tensions?
Is it a tough economic performance? (Bafana jerseys aren’t exactly priced for the faint-hearted)
Or is corporate South Africa – and the wider Rainbow Nation – simply not backing football the way they back other sports? Or on the other end, does the Bafana team not inspire the nation anymore? What with the SAFA leadership challenges and administrative bloopers.
Add to this, the ongoing political issues with US and Canadian immigration stopping bona fide participants from entering their countries and it simply increases the lack of vibe around WC 2026.
Whether the answer is a cocktail of all the above or something else entirely, one thing is certain: the proof of our sporting passion needs to show up in the present moment. We cannot be a nation that only high-fives when a trophy is already in the bag.
The action plan: Bringing back the 2010 magic
Look, we know the team’s departure was plagued by a rather frustrating logistical visa spell… But we cannot let a bureaucratic paperwork scuffle, spoil our jubilation for the biggest sporting event on the planet.
It’s time to revive the fun elements that made us global icons in 2010:
- Dust off the jersey: Patriotic locals need to heed the call. If it is a Bafana Bafana match day, you wear the colours. No excuses. If your boss asks why you’re wearing a soccer jersey to a board meeting, tell them it’s a matter of national importance.
- Fan parks and watch parties: Let’s get the community spirit back. We need local fan zones and public watch parties in every neighbourhood to capture that collective magic. Where is the Innisfree experience?
- Corporate backing: It’s time for the suits in the boardrooms to rally behind the boys with the same financial enthusiasm they show for our other teams.
Bafana Bafana is heading to the world stage, kaofela (all of us) need to be right there with them. Put the cynicism aside, find your yellow or green shirt, and let’s make South African football loud, proud, and beautifully chaotic again. Make football great again!
*The views expressed in this article are that of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect that of the University of Johannesburg.
