Cape Town – Bafana Bafana midfielder Teboho Mokoena has finally broken his silence on the controversial suspension saga that has cast a shadow over South Africa’s World Cup qualifying campaign, admitting it was a “tough” period not just for him, but for his family as well.
Speaking to Radio 2000, Mokoena said the controversy affected him not only professionally but also became emotionally draining for his entire family.
“It was honestly very hard for me and my family, especially my mother,” he said, addressing the backlash that followed after it emerged he should have been suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. “People on the streets are saying ‘this child is costing us … why did he play knowing that he had yellow cards?’”
Mokoena admitted that some encounters were humiliating. “It happened like twice at the mall when they were making fun of it,” he said. “Me thinking that we might not go to the World Cup … I knew I was going to regret it for the rest of my life.”
The midfielder revealed that the pressure got to him during camp. “I was not myself. I ended up blaming myself,” he told the station. He explained that he spoke directly to then-coach Hugo Broos, who reminded him that the technical team shared responsibility: “He said we should have all known.”
The issue stemmed from two yellow cards Mokoena received earlier in the qualifiers, which should have triggered an automatic suspension before South Africa’s match against Lesotho. Despite this, he played in the 2–0 win — prompting the Lesotho Football Association to lodge a complaint with FIFA. According to reporting at the time, Lesotho argued he was ineligible, while SAFA faced scrutiny for what many called a preventable administrative blunder.
Broos, meanwhile, publicly defended his player, dismissing some criticism as “nonsense” and insisting the situation was mishandled by those responsible for tracking bookings, as reported by several outlets. Analysts also noted that similar mistakes had happened before, putting further pressure on SAFA’s internal processes.
Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, reflecting on a comparable incident years ago, said the association must take ownership.
“Someone must be accountable … someone must come out and say ‘I’m sorry that I’ve cost the national team the three points’,” he said in reaction to the unfolding saga.
Supporters echoed that sentiment, with many demanding that SAFA identify and discipline the official who failed to flag Mokoena’s suspension. One fan’s comment that circulated widely read: “That team manager should be fired … How did the technical team miss that?”, reported Soccer Laduma.
Although FIFA’s disciplinary code states that protests over ineligible players must be lodged within 24 hours — and Lesotho’s came too late — the damage to SAFA’s reputation had already been done.
The technical oversight became a national talking point, overshadowing the team’s on-field performances.
Mokoena said qualifying for the World Cup brought more relief than joy after everything he had endured. “I was not happy but relieved,” he admitted.
The midfielder has since moved forward, earning his 50th cap in Bafana’s friendly win over Zambia, but the ordeal remains a reminder of how one administrative slip can place an entire nation under pressure.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
