'Forget Mexico' – Letsholonyane Urges Bafana to Bounce Back Against Czechia

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane has called on South Africa’s players to quickly put behind them the disappointment of their opening 2-0 defeat to co-hosts Mexico, insisting there is no time to dwell on the negative as the world’s biggest football tournament gets underway.

South Africa, reduced to nine men, fell to Mexico in front of a packed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City last Thursday. 

Despite an impressive qualifying campaign, Hugo Broos’ side were undone early when midfielder Sphephelo “Yaya” Sithole miscontrolled a pass from captain Ronwen Williams, allowing Julian Quiñones to pounce and score inside the first ten minutes. 

Sithole’s night went from bad to worse when he was sent off in the second half, before veteran striker Raúl Jiménez sealed the win with a close-range header.

The former Kaizer Chiefs midfield maestro, affectionately known as “Yeye,” in football circles, was among the spectators, having featured and scored in the legends match on Sunday in Pachuca, Mexico. 

Reflecting on the result, he admitted the loss was disappointing but urged the squad to remain resolute.

“This is a big stage, and we have done well to be back and compete at this level with a relatively young team. Forget about the game against Mexico. Pick up the lessons and anything that is positive from the game. The mood is down after the defeat. The most important game now is the next one," Letsholonyane told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview. 

Drawing Lessons, Not Comparisons

Letsholonyane acknowledged the inevitable comparisons with South Africa’s famous 2010 World Cup opener, where Siphiwe Tshabalala’s thunderbolt earned a draw against Mexico. 

But he cautioned against dwelling on the past.

“We all make mistakes. The coach will set up a team based on what he thinks will work. We played in patches against Mexico, showing glimpses of beating the press and managing pressure. But these moments must become consistent, both in the midfield and defence. This team has shown in the past that it can play football and that we can bounce back from difficult moments. We need to show the world what we're made of, and we can start doing that in our next game. Take time off, rest and analyse, but do not dwell on the negative. It is done." 

Rallying the Nation

The White City-born midfielder stressed the importance of national support, urging fans to rally behind Hugo Broos and his players.

“South African fans are very engaged on social media before, during, and after games. It is easy for the players to pick up energies based on what people are talking about. Players can outperform themselves when they know the country is behind them. We’ve shown before that when united, we can rise to any occasion. We must remain positive and rally behind the lads. There is still a lot of football to be played." 

Letsholonyane, who earned 54 international caps for the South African national team, also hailed the atmosphere at the Estadio Azteca as one of the best he has experienced as a spectator.

“The crowd was loud, especially when Ronwen started playing from the back, but it wasn’t intimidating like in North Africa. The energy was good, and it was a great experience.”

Looking ahead, he warned that South Africa’s next opponents, Czechia and South Korea, present very different challenges.

“Czechia are dangerous from set pieces. They scored ten goals from such situations in qualifying. I was able to watch them on Thursday, and they scored two goals from set-piece situations, even though the other goal was disallowed. They are tall, physical and dangerous on set plays. On the other hand, South Korea play with intensity and positivity. Both will test us in different ways. It will be important to show our good side next Thursday.”

No Time to Linger

For Letsholonyane, the message is clear: the fixture offers opportunities to correct mistakes, and the focus must shift immediately to the next fixture.

“There is no time to dwell on the negative. The next game is the most important in football. Approach it without fear, take care of the performance, and the results will follow. I felt watching the team, they focused more on the result, and sometimes you just need to play your normal game. We have a team that is capable of springing a surprise, still”, says Letsholonyane, who is currently Head Coach of Matebele FC, a top-flight club in the Botswana Premier League.

South Africa now travels to Atlanta, where they will face Czechia on Thursday, 18 June 2026, with both sides desperate to bounce back from opening defeats.