It DOESN’T mean anything that a player played all the games or got a few minutes on the field, but playing in the World Cup has grown them all apart from the 26 who went with Bafana Bafana to Mexico, Canada and the United States of America (USA).
This was said by Kamogelo Sebelebele, one of the Bafana players who accompanied Hugo Broos to the World Cup. Bafana, who came out of the Last 32, made history by progressing to the knockout stage which is the first time in South African football.
Bafana’s path to the World Cup ended in the last minutes when Canada was beaten 1-0 in the USA.
Sebelebele (23) was in his first season at Orlando Pirates but he helped them collect three titles including the Beteway Premiership. He was speaking to the media about Bafana at one of the football tournaments taking place in Vaal, Gauteng.
“We were a team without counting who was playing and who was missing the jersey with the aim of raising the profile of South African football,” said Sebelebele who came to Pirates from TS Galaxy.
“I had no doubt that all of us in the squad are proud of this because we will always compete with the players who were the first to advance to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
“All the players who were part of Bafana in the past weeks have grown in different ways, which will become clear in time.
“What I have no doubt is that everything we have learned we will use to help our teams in our differences.”
Sebelebele came on in the 85th minute when Bafana drew 1-1 with Czechia in the second World Group A match at Atlanta Stadium, Georgia, USA.
Although this player who can play at the back and in the corners suffered from an injury that forced him to undergo surgery, he succeeded in helping the Pirates win the MTN8, Carling Knockout and the league title.
One of the obvious things that will change the lives of the players who traveled with Bafana is that they will receive R2.5 million each according to the agreement that was signed before starting the trip to Mexico, Canada and the USA.