Bafana Bafana youngster Oswin Appollis is living his dream. The national team newbie is determined to help South Africa qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos and his charges will play against Benin and Rwanda in their qualifiers for the next World Cup to be hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.
These qualifiers are important in the sense that Bafana last qualified officially for a World Cup in 2002 for the Korea/Japan spectacle – they played in the 2010 edition on home soil, but they were among the 32 teams by virtue of hosting the tournament.
Bafana, who have been hit by injuries and withdrawals, will face Benin at the Moses Mabhida on Saturday. On Tuesday, they travel to Butare to meet Rwanda.
Appollis, the Polokwane City dribbling wizard, said: “It has been a good experience. The camp has been going on very well. There are lots of experienced players here and I am here to learn from them. All the players are pushing hard to win the game on Saturday, and I am also putting up some good work. I was in Polokwane when I got the news of my call-up. I immediately called my mom because it was a very proud moment for me.”
I played for junior national teams
“I have played for junior national teams, but it is for the very first time I made it to Bafana. I just want to keep on doing my best. We are a little nervous and the other guys are encouraging us to relax and to enjoy ourselves in the camp. The guys are hungry to win the matches and to qualify for the World Cup, that is every youngster’s dream.”
Broos has had to replace Lebo Mothiba with the fast-improving Orlando Pirates’ forward Evidence Makgopa. Mokgopa scored the winner in the Soweto derby this past weekend. Thapelo Maseko and Grant Kekana were also left behind due to injuries. Elias Mokwana and Tapelo Xoki have come in to provide cover for the South African team.
