Former SA skipper Bongani Khumalo emphasised the importance of the Fifa World Cup in inspiring young footballers and ensuring continuity in player development, as Bafana Bafana looks to move past their Afcon exit and prepare for the upcoming tournament. Picture: Michael Sherman With theAfrica Cup of Nations(Afcon) coming to a close over the weekend, it was probably with a tinge of regret for mostBafana Bafanafans. As Senegal were crowned champions in a controversial final over host Morocco, Bafana had long returned home after they crashed out in the Round of 16 to Cameroon.
However, with theFifa World Cupnow less than six months away, there will be no time to dwell on their underperformance at Afcon. Former Bafana captain Bongani Khumalo said this group of Bafana players had the chance to inspire a new generation like he was way back at France ’98. “It’s important because what it does is it obviously ignites something in a young footballer.
I would have said, for one in ’98 I was 12 years old, I was playing under 12B, but I watched the Fifa World Cup,” Khumalo said. “And watching the World Cup I could put a measuring stick, I thought: “Oh wow, I wish I could play there.” And I was so blessed that in 2010 I got to play in my home country in a World Cup. “So these things are so important to inspire the next generation to ensure that there’s obviously continuity in terms of the players that we develop, that we send on to have wonderful careers overseas.” For the players themselves, competing on the biggest stage would be a massive opportunity.
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“The World Cup is a wonderful platform for that. And I really believe after the World Cup, we’ll have at least five, six players that will forge a career in Europe and change their lives and family’s lives and inspire more players to come through the ranks.”
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