Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma has wished Bafana Bafana well for their Afcon quarter-final clash against Mali.
“We want Gordon Igesund, Bongani Khumalo the team captain and the entire Bafana Bafana team to know that the entire country is fully behind them and supporting them all the way,” Zuma said in a statement on Friday.
“As South Africans we have full confidence in their ability to go further... They must play tomorrow's game with pride, passion and respect so that they can walk away from that field holding their heads high no matter the outcome.”
Zuma thanked South Africans for the support they had shown in the national soccer team.
Earlier, the African National Congress also sent good wishes to Bafana.
“As the ANC, we believe that the team has the necessary capacity in all performance departments. The support by the nation will be an added motivation to our national team,” said ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu.
Bafana had demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion in their 2-2 draw against Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) group stage, he said.
Bafana face Mali in the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Saturday evening.
Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane added her voice of support.
“We are very hopeful that the team will go through to semi-finals and eventually raise the South African flag higher by lifting the African masterpiece trophy. Their fighting spirit is amazing,” she said.
She urged Bafana to emulate the 1996 national team which beat Tunisia 2-0 to claim the Afcon trophy. - Sapa