President says Bafana Bafana’s World Cup return is a moment to unite South Africans across race, language and region…reports Africa Daily News Desk
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged citizens to unite behind the national football team as Bafana Bafana prepare to make their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 16 years.
In his weekly newsletter published on Monday, Ramaphosa called on South Africans to rally behind the squad ahead of its opening match against Mexico on June 11 at the FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
The president said the team carries the hopes and aspirations of more than 62 million South Africans and described the players as ambassadors of a nation defined by diversity and unity.
Bafana Bafana departed for Mexico on Monday after all members of the squad and support staff, except one assistant coach, received their travel visas.
Ramaphosa said the composition of the national team reflected South Africa’s multicultural identity and the progress made since the end of apartheid.
He noted that the transformation of sport in the country embodies constitutional values such as fairness, tolerance, inclusivity and mutual respect, adding that football has the power to bring together people from different backgrounds.
Drawing parallels with one of South Africa’s most iconic sporting moments, Ramaphosa recalled former President Nelson Mandela’s appearance in a Springbok jersey during the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, a gesture widely regarded as a symbol of national reconciliation.
The president said Bafana Bafana’s return to football’s biggest stage carried significance beyond results on the pitch.
While expressing hope that the team could achieve success at the tournament, he stressed that qualification itself represented an important milestone for the country.
“Regardless of how Bafana Bafana fare in the tournament, their participation is as rich with meaning as the 1995 Rugby World Cup,” Ramaphosa wrote.
He linked the team’s World Cup appearance to what he described as a broader process of national renewal, pointing to South Africa’s democratic development, constitutional values, ongoing National Dialogue process and signs of economic recovery.
According to Ramaphosa, the team’s presence at the tournament provides an opportunity for South Africans to celebrate both sporting achievement and the country’s progress towards a united, non racial, non sexist and democratic society.
The president also called on citizens to set aside their differences and support the national side throughout the competition.
“For 90 minutes, as they play for our country, we will not be divided by language, race, province, club or circumstance,” he wrote.
Ramaphosa concluded his message with a rallying call for national unity, declaring: “One Team. One Nation. Behind Bafana. Behind South Africa. United by our Flag, inspired by our Team. 62 million cheering voices. One Dream.”
South Africa’s return to the World Cup marks its first appearance at the tournament since hosting the competition in 2010.
