Malesela – The Worry Should Be Bafana’s World Cup Absence

The worry should not be that there isn’t a single player from the DStv Premiership at the on-going FIFA World Cup in Qatar, but that Bafana are not. Those are the sentiments of Marumo Gallants head coach Dan Malesela.

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Richard Ofori had looked like the only representative with the Black Stars of Ghana but was ruled out with injury.

Talking to iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago in edition 81 of iDiski Times newspaper, Malesela said the standard of the game domestically has to improve to reflect the magnitude of the league on the continent. 

“That’s a worrying factor but the biggest worrying factor is that the national team is not and has not been for a while” Malesela told iDiski Times. 

“That’s why we need to work hard to try and improve the standard of our players at home and the standard of our football. We are having arguably the biggest league in the continent so we need to show even in World Cup stages and say we can compete” 

“It shouldn’t be entertainment for local football but also entertainment for other countries. I get tired of being told let’s go watch a match involving Man-City and Fulham. We need to have people also say let’s go and watch South African football. It’s not something that is going to happen now but we can push to get things better as long as we do things right”

Read Malesela’s full interview in edition 81 of iDiski Times out now.