Jonty Mark

By Jonty Mark

Football Editor


Bafana oozing confidence – Mokotjo

Kamohelo Mokotjo has been impressed by the mood in the Bafana Bafana squad on his return to the side for the upcoming 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Cape Verde.


Bafana take on Cape Verde in Praia this evening before welcoming them to Durban on Tuesday as South Africa look for six points that will put them in an excellent position to make it to Russia 2018.

Stuart Baxter got off to a fantastic start in his second spell as the Bafana head coach, with a 2-0 win over Nigeria in Uyo in June in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, with Mokotjo missing that game through injury.

The talented midfielder had his issues with previous Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba, and at one stage even retired from international football, but he now looks set to become a permanent fixture in the squad.

“The atmosphere has been good, I missed the Nigeria game, but the boys got a good result, they looked very well-structured and put in a good performance,” said Mokotjo in Praia this week.

“Hopefully we can take a lot of the good things we did in that game and continue doing the good work.”

The Brentford midfielder also indicated that the three points are far more important than any wondrous performance.

“We need to play effectively, playing away from home we need to get a result. The main goal is getting to the World Cup so results are the most important thing.”

Another Bafana midfielder, Dean Furman, stressed the importance of Bafana building on a fine start to 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifying.

They currently sit with four points in Group D, level with Burkina Faso and a point ahead of Senegal, with four matches left to play. Only the group winners will go to Russia.