Bafana Bafana legend Edward “Magents” Motale says he’s getting goosebumps. Not because of nostalgia, but because the current national team is starting to remind him of the iconic AFCON 1996 squad that lifted the trophy on home soil. And according to him, the spark behind it is something South African football fans know all too well: a strong Orlando Pirates core.
A Pirates Backbone Returns
Motale was part of the legendary Pirates team that conquered Africa in 1995, just months before Bafana Bafana claimed the AFCON title. He remembers that era clearly — the confidence, the swagger, the belief. And now, with nine Pirates players named in Hugo Broos’ 25-man squad for Morocco, he says the energy feels familiar.
“The last time Orlando Pirates dominated the Bafana squad was during our time. We had about seven Pirates players back then,” he recalls. “Before this squad, Sundowns had the most players in the national team, but now it’s Orlando Pirates.”
Rising Star Mbokazi Earns His Moment
Twenty-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi, the latest young centre-back to turn heads, is among those who have impressed Motale. For him, Mbokazi represents the kind of hunger that defined the golden generation.
“What I like about him is that he had a dream, he chased it, and he fulfilled it through his performances,” Motale says. “He has focus, determination and a real will to win.”
Fans have also rallied behind Mbokazi, calling him “the future of South African defending” after his rapid rise at both club and international level.
Continuity Is The Secret Ingredient
Motale isn’t the only former Pirate feeling optimistic. Retired goalkeeper and analyst Brighton Mhlongo sees something equally important: stability.
He believes Hugo Broos’ decision to retain the trusted goalkeeping trio of Ronwen Williams, Sipho Chaine and Ricardo Goss highlights a clear strategy.
“For Coach Hugo, it has always been about keeping the core of the group that has been together for some time,” Mhlongo explains. “Continuity has been key, especially in the goalkeeping department.”
In a world where national team coaches often chop and change, Broos’ loyalty to his foundation has struck a positive chord with supporters who value consistency.
Can Bafana Rewrite History 30 Years Later?
With the team riding high after securing bronze in Côte d’Ivoire and carrying a renewed sense of identity, Motale believes South Africa could finally break the 30-year AFCON drought.
He isn’t promising victory, but he’s seen enough to believe the possibility is real.
“There’s good momentum around Bafana. The boys can really do wonders next year,” he says.
And as the countdown to Morocco 2025 begins, that blend of old memories and new belief may be exactly what the country needs.
For now, fans are daring to dream — and Motale, once part of South Africa’s greatest football story, is telling them it might just happen again.
Source: SABC Sport
Featured Image Source: Kickoff Mag on X
