BAFANA Bafana have started their FIFA World Cup campaign with a loss and a draw and will hope for a positive result against South Korea this week to progress to the Round of 32.

In the lead-up to and during the World Cup, Northglen News will speak to former football players and Bafana Bafana greats. This week we speak to uMhlanga resident Mark Fish.

Fish was born in Cape Town but moved to Pretoria at an early age and attended Sunnyside Primary School and Pretoria Boys’ High School. While he played various sports in school, he excelled in football. His first club he played for at the age of six was Arcadia Shepherds in Pretoria.

Also read: Former Bafana striker shares picks for FIFA World Cup

The defender went on to play for several clubs including Orlando Pirates, Lazio in Italy as well as Charlton Athletic and Bolton Wanderers in England. Something he will always be remembered for was being a part of the triumphant Bafana Bafana team that won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 1996. He also scored in the quarter-finals of the tournament against Algeria.

Having debuted for the national team in 1993 in a friendly against Mexico, Fish represented Bafana Bafana 62 times, scoring twice.

Fish currently coaches and is involved in a local academy, and does work for the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

He is a regular participant in the aQuellé Midmar Mile in KZN. In November last year the 52-year-old was inducted into the South African Hall of Fame.

Also read: Neil Tovey predicts the winner of FIFA World Cup

Who is going to win the World Cup?

How do you rate Bafana Bafana’s chances?

“I believe we will get out of the group to the Round of 32. The important thing is the players deserve to be there. My advice to Hugo Broos and the team is just go out and enjoy the moment, don’t put too much expectation on yourself. Live the moment. You are fortunate to be playing in a World Cup, representing your country and being watched by millions across the world. What will be will be and this group of players have worked hard.”

What is your earliest football World Cup memory?

“My earliest memory was when I was in Standard Five (Grade Seven). That would have been the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. I was listening to the games on the radio. Why I remember it is because my school (Sunnyside Primary School) was playing Glenstantia Primary School during the tournament. I grew up as a striker and my teacher at the time told me if I can score nine goals she would buy me the official World Cup ball which had the flags of all the nations on it. I didn’t score nine goals, I scored eight but she still bought it for me and that’s my earliest memory of the game.”

Have you played or attended a FIFA World Cup?

“I represented Bafana at the 1998 World Cup in France. It was an amazing experience despite losing our opening game 3-0 to the hosts and eventual winners. I couldn’t think of anything better than being a part of and playing in a World Cup. It was an unbelievable memory.”

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