CAF president Patrice Motsepe has made a sad admission about Bafana Bafana.
Motsepe was speaking on the sidelines of his media address about African teams’ performances at the just-ended FIFA World Cup.
The CAF boss has presided over two major international competitions since taking over as president of the continental body.
Earlier this year, he was at the Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] in Cameroon and spent time at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Bafana Bafana not present
Bafana Bafana – the senior South Africa national team – was not present at any of those competitions.
Motsepe has since described the feeling of not having Bafana Bafana at those competitions as sad.
“I have a duty to the rest of the continent, and I am a South African, and I’m grateful to this country. It’s made me what I am,” Motsepe told journalists.
“It makes me very sad because we should be there, we can be there, and we will be there. “This country has the most talented football players – boys and girls.”
Motsepe warns football administrators that the real progress is not in speeches but in hard work that happens behind the scenes.
Progress is not in talking
“Sometimes the real progress is not talking and responding as I do now, but it’s in private meetings, private discussions, and confidential meetings with a clear focus that South African football deserves to be among the best in the world and will be among the nest on the world.”
Bafana Bafana are in the same group as Morocco and Liberia for the 2023 qualifiers that continue in March.
The senior national team started the campaign on a losing note when they fell 2-1 to Morocco away from home.
They play Liberia in March and will be hoping to win both legs and secure qualification for the continental football showcase.
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