“Third Time Lucky!” — Benni Reacts In Bafana World Cup’s Success
Bafana Bafana legend and all-time leading goalscorer Benni McCarthy has praised the national team for making history by reaching the FIFA World Cup knockout stages for the first time following their memorable victory over South Korea on Thursday.
The former striker, who remains South Africa’s all-time top scorer, knows exactly what it means to represent the country on football’s biggest stage.
McCarthy featured in two FIFA World Cups for Bafana Bafana. He first appeared at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, where he scored South Africa’s maiden World Cup goal in a 1-1 draw against Denmark.
He also found the back of the net in South Africa’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Spain at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Following Bafana’s historic achievement, McCarthy expressed his delight and praised both the players and the technical team for ending years of heartbreak at the global showpiece.
“That’s it. It’s the best thing for us. In the second half, if we’re a little more clinical and take our chances, even if it’s just one chance, with all the opportunities we created, one goal would have been enough,” McCarthy said on Sporty TV.
“Then we had our hearts in our mouths for a little bit. But fair play to the team.
“It’s the first time we’ve waited 16 years to participate in a World Cup, and twice before we’ve had opportunities to qualify for the knockout stages.
“In 2010, we had four points but didn’t qualify. At the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, we also finished with four points and couldn’t qualify. So, third time lucky.
“We have to give huge credit to the players, the technical staff and the coaches. They’ve done a solid job, a job well done, and congratulations to the boys.
“But now the real hard work starts. We’ve done the group stage; now it’s the knockout rounds, what we’ve all been waiting for. Anything can happen and anything is possible.”
Following this historic achievement, Bafana Bafana will now face another co-host nation, Canada, in the Round of 32. A victory would see South Africa advance to the Round of 16 and move one step closer to an even greater piece of history.
