South Africa head coach Hugo Broos and match winner Thapelo Maseko have reacted to Bafana Bafana’s 1-0 win over South Korea in Monterrey, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Africans, who lost their opening group game to Mexico, bounced back with a draw against Czech Republic and needed another win against the Asians to stand a chance of reaching the knockout stages.
Thapelo Maseko handed them the lead just after the hour mark, and they did enough to see out the game and qualify for the round of 32 for the very first time.
”It is difficult to explain what this feels like. It is a fantastic experience,” Broos told FIFA after the game.
”We played really well and created chances. Tactically, we did really well, and Korea Republic couldn’t find the spaces that they wanted. We scored the goal, and then it was 20 minutes with a very high heart rate. What we did in the last five years is amazing.
”When you work together for such a long time, there is a connection, and it is more than a relationship between coach and players; we have become friends. We just have to enjoy this,” Broos concluded.
On his part, match-winner Maseko said the team gave their all to prove doubters wrong, and that it’s a result for the few who believed in him.
”Ít’s unbelievable, it feels like a dream. Thank you to the fans; they gave it their all. This is for everyone who supported us, but also for those who didn’t. There were many people who didn’t believe in us. We went through some rough patches. But this team showed that they are capable and strong,” said the 22-year-old winger.
As runners-up in Group A, Bafana Bafana will play their next match in Los Angeles on 28 June against Group B runners-up Canada.
