Imisila iphakathi kwamathanga kwiqela lesizwe loMzantsi Afrika (SA Under-23) emva kokuba livuthululwe yiMexico ngamagowuli amathathu eqandeni (3-0) emdlalweni we-Olimpiki wesithathu ngenjikalanga yanamhlanje. UMzantsi Afrika, oye emdlalweni wanamhlanje uphantsi koxinizelelo ngenxa yeziphumo ezibi ozifumene emidlalweni egqithileyo, ucishilelwe zisuka emdlalweni kwade kwasekugqibeleni. Nangona amakhwenkwe kaDavid Notoane ekhe azama ukuxhathalaza kwisigaba sokuqala somdlalo – kodwa iMexico ibhakuzelise umnatha ngebhola efakwe ngu-Alex Vega emzuzwini weshumi elinesibhozo.
Emva kokulawula umdlalo, iMexico ifumene igowuli lesibini elifakwe nguLuis Romo phambi kokusongwa kwesiqingatha sokuqala. URonwen Williams ubethwe ziibhola zabadlali beMexico ngenxa yeempazamo ezenziwe ngoogxa bakhe kwiindawo ezimbi ebaleni. Unozinti weMexico, uGuillermo Ochoa, ebenolala aphinde avuke ngoba abadlali boMzantsi Afrika bebengamsebenzisi. Khange kubekho nto iguqukileyo kwisigaba sesibini somdlalo. Abadlali beMexico bebekhawuleza bayithathe ibhola kuMzantsi Afrika ongakwazanga ukudlala ngendlela odlale ngayo neFrance ngempelaveki egqithileyo. Izinto ziye zambi ngakumbi ngethuba uTercious Malepe ekhutshwa ngekhadi elibombu emva kokudlala kakubi uHenry Martin.
Kodwa khange kube kudala, nayo iMexico ilahlekelwe ngumdlali emva kokuba uCarlos Rodrigues enikwe ikhadi elibomvu. Emva koko, abadlali boMzantsi Afrika badlale ibhola ebhetele futhi enika ithemba – kodwa bekungasekho nto abanokuyenza. UMartin uye wafaka igowuli lesithathu leMexico. Uphume kanjalo uMzantsi Afrika emidlalweni we-Olimpiki. Ubethwe yiJapan ngo’1-0 emdlalweni wokuqala. Nangona udlale kakuhle ngempelaveki – kodwa ubethwe yiFrance ngo’4-3 emdlalweni obukhokela kuwo. Abantu abaninzi basole uNotoane ngokungakwazi ukusebenzisa abadlali bakhe kakuhle emdlalweni wangempelaveki ebekumele uMzantsi Afrika ubuye nempumelelo kuwo.
Ababezenza amapolisa baphanga usapho, baqhotsa batya inyama yabo!