Bafana Bafana are tired of being known as Africa's whipping boys, defender Tefu Mashamaite said ahead of the team's departure today for Saturday's 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Republic of Congo in Pointe Noire.
Mashamaite was thrust to the forefront this week as the most likely replacement for the injured Anele Ngcongca in central defence.
"To be honest, I never thought I'd play for Bafana again," the Kaizer Chiefs defender said yesterday.
"But things happen in life. The coach said with my club performance, he couldn't really ignore me.
"The average age of the group is about 26. I'm 30 and 'Yeye' [Reneilwe Letsholonyane] is 32. So we will be looking to add experience.
"The spirit of positivity always rubs off in a good way, especially as the coach wants a change in mindset. We don't want to be known as Bafana Bafana, the whipping boys of the African continent. We need to change that, and this is a good place to start."
Bafana's matches against Congo on Saturday, then on Wednesday in Polokwane, are crucial to their fate in Group A. Congo's wins against Nigeria and Sudan see Africa's Red Devils topping the group with six points.
Bafana are second on four points, but are aware that Nigeria (one point) are likely to make up as much as six points in their two matches against Sudan.
"We saw what Congo did against Nigeria and this is going to be a real test," Mashamaite said.
"I watched that game and I think Congo are more organised under Claude le Roy. They've got big, physical players.
"But I saw them lose concentration. The coaches have done research on that and we'll look to capitalise on those things."
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