“We Thrive When People Doubt Us”: Kolisi Sends Powerful Message To Bafana Ahead Of World Cup Opener
Springbok icon Siya Kolisi believes Bafana Bafana can defy global expectations and achieve greatness at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, urging the national football team to draw inspiration from South Africa’s rich sporting heritage.
Kolisi understands better than most what it takes to conquer the world against all odds. When he and head coach Rassie Erasmus took charge of a struggling Springbok side ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, they were heavy underdogs.
Their tournament got off to the worst possible start, losing their opening group match to defending champions New Zealand. Yet, the Boks methodically fought their way to the final, dismantling England to claim their third world title.
In doing so, they became the first nation to lift the Webb Ellis Cup after losing a group-stage game—mirroring Spain’s legendary turnaround at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Four years later in France, facing an incredibly tough path that included a group-stage loss to world number-one ranked Ireland, the Boks rediscovered their championship mojo.
They edged out the All Blacks in a dramatic final to become the first nation to win four Rugby World Cups, and only the second to retain the crown back-to-back, alongside the great New Zealand sides of 2011 and 2015.
Given Bafana Bafana’s lengthy absence from the global football elite, few international pundits expect Hugo Broos’ men to challenge heavyweights like Argentina, Spain, France, or Brazil.
South Africa will open their 2026 World Cup campaign on 11 June against hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca, hunting for just their third-ever win in tournament history.
But Kolisi, who overcame a grueling childhood of poverty to become one of the planet’s most celebrated sporting figures, insists that absolute belief is Bafana’s ultimate weapon.
“I wish them absolutely everything of the best,” Kolisi said, recalling his visit to the Bafana Bafana camp in Durban earlier this year.
“They were here to prepare, and I went to speak to them. I want them to go out there and give it everything. They have over 65 million people backing them.”
“They have already shown us what they can do,” the Springbok flanker continued.
“I have no doubt they can achieve great things. Of course, the rest of the world might not think so, but that is exactly when South Africans thrive—when people doubt us. The talent is there, and they’ve proven it repeatedly.”
Kolisi also emphasized the historical weight the current generation carries, highlighting the presence of legendary figures within the current national setup.
“They have assistant coach Helman Mkhalele. I told the players that when I look at him, I remember the golden era of Bafana Bafana [when they won the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations],” said Kolisi.
“They brought that pride back. Just like the Springboks, there was a period where public support waned. But they don’t have to look far for inspiration. They can look at living legends like Siyabonga ‘Bhele’ Nomvethe, who is right there in Durban, [and who scored that historic winning goal against Slovenia at the 2002 World Cup].”
Kolisi, who is set to rejoin the Springbok camp to kick off the 2026 international season in July against England, believes the blueprint for success already exists within South African borders.
“The 1996 Bafana team was doing the most before any other sport in our democratic era,” Kolisi recalled.
“Those are the giant shoulders this current team walks on. They can call Doctor Khumalo or Nomvethe. They don’t have to look outside our borders for inspiration; they can look at us, they can look at the Proteas cricket team, or Banyana Banyana, our women’s team, who have done the absolute most. They just need to know the entire country is entirely behind them.”
