Deja Vu With Mexico, Danger From Korea: Aaron Mokoena Assesses Bafana’s World Cup Test

Former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena reflects to their fixture against Mexico in the opener of the 2010 FIFA World Cup here in South Africa, and looks ahead to Bafana’s Group A in next year’s edition of the showpiece event in Mexico and the United States of America.

Difficulty of Group A

South Africa have been drawn in Group A with the likes of co-hosts Mexico and South Korea, with the fourth team set to be decided in the upcoming playoffs.

On paper, and given Bafana Bafana’s impressive recent success on the World stage, many expect coach Hugo Broos’ men to get the job done and progress to the next round relatively easy.

However, former Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena, a legend that has succeeded in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands during his playing days, reckons this group will not be as easy as many anticipate.

Mokoena believes that pride in representing South Africa will be the defining factor in not only the group but the rest of the tournament.

“I had a few people asking me, which teams would I be happy to be drawn against? And I always said, the beauty about the World Cup is that it's the pinnacle, and the highest stage of football,” Mokoena told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

“You feel that you have achieved when you have participated when you have participated in the World Cup. There is not an easy team when you are in the World Cup."

“Right now, I understand that because of the extension of the number of countries in the group, people think that it's going to be an easy World Cup."

“I mean, South Africa recently played against Cape Verde and we all saw how difficult it was for South Africa to beat Cape Verde. The point I'm making is that there isn't an easy group and there is never an easy country to get beat."

“I'm talking from a personal point of view, when I used to wear the national colours, I would die wearing the national colours. It didn't matter what country we're playing against - it can be Brazil, it can be a country with a massive history, I always made sure that I turn up."

“So, what I'm saying is that, yes, the group that we have, it might look okay in terms of us having a chance to get to the next round, but it won't be easy. The good thing that we do have with Bafana now, we have a foundation that's been laid. We went to the AFCON and we came back with bronze. That was amazing. We have qualified for the world cup. It is amazing."

“Hugo Broos and Mkelele have managed to assemble a group of players that understands the national colours and what it means. One or two of them are currently playing at a very high standard of football.”

Mexico, South Korea

Mokoena further highlighted that South Korea will naturally pose a threat with their speed and abundance of energy, and that South Africa should be wary.

However, before Bafana face Mexico, they will the World Cup opener against Mexico in Mexico, during the same date that they faced each other 15 years ago during the 2010 World Cup at Soccer City in Johannesburg.

“Playing Mexico, it’s sort of a Deja vu, because we played Mexico in the 2010 World Cup. That was the strongest Mexican team we played,” Mokoena told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.

“I mean, if you can go back and look at the individual players that they had in 2010 and compare them with players that Mexico have now, we stand a good chance of making it difficult for Mexico. Even been beating them with what we have, we stand a good chance."

“However, with Korea, it is going to be difficult. Why am I saying that is that again? From experience, Japan and Korea in 2002, they are full of energy. Technically they might not be sound, but they will run you for as long as the game lasts. That's the difficult part about playing against South American teams and Asian teams."

“It’s a group that I would say it's doable. Going into the next round, I think it’s doable. I mean, in the 2010 World Cup, we had six points in the group stage of the World Cup. With those numbers, you’re supposed to have qualified to the next round."

“But because we were in the group of death, I mean, we had Mexico, we had Uruguay, we had France, and no one expected us to have six points in that group, but we managed, despite us not going through.”

Before they head over to the FIFA World Cup, Bafana will play in the 2025 edition of the African Cup Of Nations.

There, they will continue their quest of building a team for next year’s World Cup campaign.