DOWN THE HISTORY ALLEY| TSHABALALA'S FAMED 2010 GOAL

As Miguel Delaney the Independent UK Chief football writer puts it “If there is no feeling on a football pitch like scoring the winning goal in a World Cup final, there are few off it like the atmosphere of anticipation before such game.”

Well, scoring a goal is each player’s goal, but doing it in the biggest international tournament in football history is every player’s dreams. I hope we have realized how insipid and melancholy life is without any Live sport event, football, particularly. Watching SuperSports’ Re-live did not prove to be much of a waste, as I found myself nostalgic and decided to reminiscent through one of the greatest triumphs South African football has gone through. South Africa are declared the host of 2010 FIFA World Cup, the dignifying moment, and truly was a special moment in South Africa’s post-Apartheid Era, it was a time of especially rigid conformity and while will be remembered eternally for greater parts of South African football. South Africa is the youngest country in African continent to obtain its independency (this is somehow ironic given the ascendancy and monopoly they’ve held and the greater heights they’ve reached in the continent). The felicity, when the then FIFA president Josep Blatter declared South Africa as the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The parade; people across townships assembled with pure ecstasy, it really was a monumental time.

Perhaps, if you weren’t privileged enough to watch the opening match (RSA vs Mexico) this piece should be at least helpful if not, to navigate you through; Schools are closed for an entire month, everyone must witness this weighty, hefty historical moment. June 11, we had been gathered in a neighbourhood house, for it was one of the least households which had electricity power, let alone a television screen. Coherent full house, the intention was clear; ‘we want to watch Bafana Bafana’s opening match against Mexico’, that was long anticipated. The cheerful (84 000) sold out Soccer City was unprecedented; we were happy as a box of birds. 15:00h (CAT) kick-off time, we are poised. Recited the national anthem, with our hands held together and shouted ‘Nkos’sikelel’Africa.’

An alluring, enthralling end-to-end stuff first half. We all wanted the goal, the football was as exciting as it was when South Africa played Spain in 2009 Confederation Cup, where Katlego Mphela scored a belter free kick. It ended 0-0 in the interval. The second half was underway, Bafana were threatening the Mexicans like never, the atmosphere was out of this world when Bafana were in transition, it was a kind of football we all longed for.

The game is at its climax. Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Katlego Mphela are exchanging the ball, the latter passes it to Teko Modise, who put the ball deep behind Mexico’s defence to set up Siphiwe Tshabalala, as the iconic, legendary poetic football commentator, Peter Drury recites it “TSHABALALA! GOAL BAFANA BAFANA! GOAL FOR SOUTH AFRICA! GOAL FOR ALL AFRICA. REJOICE!” it was in the 55^th minute, it was unifying moment, a moment which has been written in South Africa’s football history books. The Mexicans would go on to equalise in the 79^th minute albeit, in heart-breaking manner, which somehow fettered the Bafana famous win.

“It was history in the making. I feel honoured and grateful at the same time.” Tshabalala says it after the match. The was no way the Mexican goalkeeper could have gotten to that ball to salvage it from entering the net, he had glanced at it, as it was diagonally executed. It was just a poetry in motion for South Africa. “I still get goose bumps. The date itself is marked by receiving messages from all quarters. It is a special day in my career.” The Kaizer Chiefs star said. “This was one of the most beautiful goals in the world.” commented the three World Cup winner with Brazil, Pele.

There are few, football historical moments in South Africa, but this was one of the best in history. A goal that changed South African football dimension. It was a seismic day in South African football.