With the 2018 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, fans and pundits alike eagerly await the tournament to kick-start in Russia. For South Africa, this will be the second consecutive World Cup where they will not be taking part, dating back to 2010, where they were the host nation.
Bafana Bafana legend, Mark Fish, who was part of the first South African group of players to qualify for a FIFA World Cup, didn’t hold back when he gave his reason why Stuart Baxter’s charges do not have a ticket to Russia.
In an exclusive interview with Soccer Betting News, issue 418, Fish put most of the blame on SAFA, while also calling for change at the South African federation.
“Well we not going to Russia, first of all, because of our federation. People keep saying we haven’t qualified for a World Cup since 2010, although that doesn’t count,” Fish told Soccer Betting News.
“The federation has stayed the same. Players have come and gone, coaches have come and gone, so you’ve got to say that why we’re not qualifying for World Cups, I’ve got to think that the mentality of SAFA has remained the same, because the people are the same,”
“Unfortunately, we think we’re a footballing nation where we think we’ve arrived once Sundowns won the CAF Champions League, but we haven’t,” Fish continued.
With 2018 marking 16 years since South Africa last qualified for a FIFA World Cup, Fish has doubted that vision 2022 will be a success.
“Are we going to qualify for the next World Cup? I can’t tell you,” he said.
“Drastic changes need to be made at the head for the body to change, and the mindset of football in South Africa amongst footballers, coaches, ex-players, ex-coaches and amongst fans.”
“You know, SAFA don’t realise what they’re doing to our football. The longer it carries on, the harder it’s going to get.”
Article by Jesse Nagel
