The Ultimate Commentator- Zebras Vs Bafana Bafana game!

The Mighty Zebras went against S.A's Bafana Bafana on what was termed a very crucial game. Both teams had both performed poorly in their first world cup qualifier games and both came into this match with a determination to rise above their previous defeats and get back on the competition. Zebras had played against Central African Republic (CAR) the weekend before their encounter with S.A. Funny enough, the Zebras Vs CAR game which should have caused a lot of noise and excitement as it was the first qualifier game was rather surprisingly on the low down. Some people did not even know about it. The media did not make any fuss about it. It was not aired on BTV and I myself got to know the score on Monday- two days after the game!!

 The Zebras Vs Bafana game on the other hand was the talk of town. People started wearing the Zebras jerseys a week prior to the game. The Zebras flags and mirror covers were pulled out from wherever they had been stashed and put to use. The station and the mall stallls were once again colourful with Zebras merchandise on sale. Each and every radio sation, newspaper and social media went on about this Zebras/Bafana game. And yes, BTV aired the game, it just had to!!

On this day of the game,as me and my cousins were helping out at a family meeting, all we could think about was the game. Where we were gonna watch it? Who is going to win?    Why Mogogi likes ditching us. South Africa not having a coach.....! The conversations went on and on while we kept looking at the time and hoping that the meeting could just end so that we could hit the road. A few minutes past 2 and we were off! After too much confusion and hesitation, O'hagans, we decided, was where we were gonna watch the game. The game began just as we entered Mogoditshane. My cousin had to step on it! Time was definitely not on our side. Just as we reached the Game City circle, Bafana scored. I felt my heart sinking. Right there and then we wanted to turn around with the circle and go back home. After all, it was a very chilly Saturday and the idea of a warm bed was not really unattractive. Yep!! Talk about a Motswana not being too loyal huh?! But no, we decided to just go ahead and go watch the game. O'hagans was packed. All tables were taken. The waiter, who was more interested in the game than us just told us that there were no seats and did not even bother to look for chairs for us, so we just stood up, not for long though. Soon we found chairs. No tables, just chairs, but it was alright. The game looked promising. My guys were on form! They weren't the Zebras who easily got demoralized after a goal and just give in and let more and more goals go in. This time, they were really fighting.

So on my right there was a table with two South Africans on it. As Zebras kept fighting and fighting I could not help but notice the other South African guy's discomfort. He wasn't too happy with the way his team was playing. As we scored our first goal for this competition. you would've sworn that this guy had just shed a tear or two. His eyes were red, his heart was so broken. As the rest of O'hagans jumped and screamed and sang with joy, his annoyance grew immensely. I could not help but laugh out loud. Our joy annoyed him while his annoyance brought me joy. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate S.A nor do i hate South Africans. This is the same country that I have stayed and studied at, got my matric and degree certificates from. I have self made families there who have seen me through a lot and I love them to death. However, truth be told, the rivalry between these two countries is quite evident. South Africans came to this game with the believe that they have won already.They undermined us, and its quite funny because the week before this game they had drew with Ethiopia, a team that's rated well below the Zebras, but clearly they did not learn anything from that experience..! That this is football and anything can happen!! And as they went home, their hearts broken and bleeding as if they had been defeated, we at home continued celebrating as if we had come out victorious. Hmm-mm, u just gotta love football!!!