McKenzie Wants Proteas Coach To Inspire Bafana Bafana

Minister of Sports Gayton McKenzie announced he’ll be playing a role in getting Proteas coach Shukri Conrad to share his “magic” with the Bafana Bafana squad before they head to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Proteas returned to South Africa on Wednesday to a heroic welcome at OR Tambo International Airport. This followed their impressive five-wicket victory over Australia inside four days in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s on Saturday. This marked South Africa’s first men’s senior ICC trophy since 1998.

Notably, before departing for the World Test Championship, Proteas coach Conrad and his coaching staff met with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. They sought words of wisdom on what it takes to win an international tournament, especially given the Springboks’ back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023.

Now, with Bafana Bafana set to head to Morocco later this year in pursuit of their first AFCON title since 1996, Conrad has been “elevated” to the role of sharing his insights with Bafana coach Hugo Broos before their departure for the North African country.

“Bafana Bafana have gone 20 games without a loss,” McKenzie reminded everyone at the press conference on Wednesday. “I can tell you definitely, Shukri is now elevated to the Rassie level, because now I’m going to say, ‘Shukri, be like Rassie.'”

This has been a period of consistent success for South African sport. Recently, the Under-20 national football team claimed its first U/20 Africa Cup of Nations title.

The Springboks are also hard at work preparing to defend the Rugby Championship, and Banyana Banyana are getting ready to defend the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco next month.

“I can tell you our sport is really in good hands,” the minister continued. “Dricus du Plessis is the champion fighter in the world. Now, cricket, rugby… and when we travel as government, I must tell you, with other ministers, we always talk about our sporting teams. And I can’t wait to meet the Minister of Manchester in England. I can’t wait to meet the Indian minister.”

McKenzie shared a humorous anecdote: “I will tell you something that is funny. I got an invite from the government, and I said to my team, ‘I don’t think I can make it.’ The first person I called after the win [Proteas won] was my officer, like, ‘I’m going, I’m going, I’m going to be there.'”

He concluded by stating, “We will follow the advice [for Conrad to meet Bafana Bafana before they leave for AFCON].”