When ’96 icon Mark Williams met Banyana’s heroine Hilda Magaia

Mark Williams and Hildah Magaia have a few things in common.

Not only did they represent the national teams with distinction, but they also created heroic, unforgettable moments in that green and yellow shirt. 

They both scored braces to hand the South African national teams coveted continental titles. Of course, Williams’ brace came exactly 26 ago, while Magaia’s came last Saturday in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON] final. 

It put hosts Morocco to the sword, guiding a Banyana Banyana side – that lacked the predatory Thembi Kgatlana’s bite – to the podium. 

Interestingly, the South Korea-based Magaia was just a year old when Williams brought the FNB Stadium to a standstill with his second-half brace in the 74 and 75 minutes. 

The then Wolverhampton Wanderers striker was a second-half substitute who inspired Bafana to a 2-0 victory against Tunisia.

Magaia, who is in the books of Sejong Sportstoto in East Asia, netted a second-half brace (63, 71) to give Banyana their first WAFCON Gold and South Africa’s only second continental title.

Had Kgatlana, who was ruled out by injury, perhaps Magaia would have risen from the bench as Williams did. But that does not matter as she put the final nail in the host nation’s coffin just four minutes after a much-waited opener at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. 

Following Banyana’s arrival at O.R Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, the two national heroes met on the sidelines to reminisce about their achievements. To anyone watching their chitchat and knowing the ’96 story, the question was what the two were talking about.

“First of all, scoring those two goals feels amazing, although it feels like a dream. It has not sunk in a way, and I am still processing it. Seeing Mark Williams was an iconic moment for me. I was so elated,” Magaia told FARPost when asked about that ‘iconic’ conversation. 

“He told me that he is proud of me. He actually asked for my picture, but I was supposed to be the one asking for a picture, but he did ask me for a picture (she laughs).”

Expectedly, the ex-Bafana forward took time to tell her about the brace that changed it all for the national team that boasted talents like Doctor Khumalo and Lucas Radebe.

“He was like you scored two goals, and I scored, and I did the same thing, so me and you are icons,” added the 27-year-old. 

The former TUT striker will soon shift focus to club football with one eye on next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The African champions will be one of the nations at the global soccer showcase next year.

RELATED STORY: Banyana seal WAFCON triumph with 2-1 win over Morocco

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