Bafana Bafana legend Dr Khumalo believes South Africa's senior national football team can qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The team performed better than expected, finishing third in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Ivory Coast recently. Bafana's first medal since 2000 also saw them move up in the CAF and FIFA rankings.
Bafana Bafana have not qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 2002 in Japan and South Korea. The team participated in a worldwide exhibition in 2010, as it was the host country. After finishing third in the recent AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast, Bafana legend Dr Khumalo believes they too can qualify for the global exhibition.
“Let's not tear it down so they can qualify. Let's support Hugo because it's not broken yet. Hellman and the background staff and the boys, let's let them continue the way they did it in Ivory Coast. I'd like to believe Nigeria is in our group, but I'd bet all my money that SA can overcome that obstacle, based on what I've seen in Ivory Coast.''
South Africa won in 1996, silver in 1998 and bronze in 2000. However, it has been a downward spiral for Bafana ever since.
“We had no continuity. More than 80 per cent of the 1996 legends were removed from the team. That's one of the reasons manager Clive Barker had to resign suddenly and that's why we I think that's one of the main reasons why we've been struggling for 28 years.''We don't want to go through the same situation, keep using the same players, and we don't want to constrain the young players, but we don't want to put the experienced players in a bind.'' We want to make sure that players like him are still part of the team,” Khumalo added.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) appointed Walter Steenbok as technical director two years ago. Khumalo says this was a step in the right direction to maintain continuity.
“When SAFA appointed technical director Walter Steenbok, I have been working with him and he knows what is needed in terms of SAFA, so this is the right direction. The players and the technical team. In order to continue
Bafana are primarily made up of locally based players, with only three players plying their trade overseas. Khumalo says there are many players currently based in Europe who can add value to the team in the future.
“We still have over 80 young players outside SA in Europe. We just listen when they do something and evaluate their performance and whether they are eligible to play for the national team. We don’t have people.”
The Bafana Bafana legend also believes that many players will sign with overseas teams after their heroics at AFCON.
Video: Soccer legend Dr Khumalo helps Bafana qualify for the FIFA World Cup