Matuludi keen to make history

THABANG Matuludi was only two and a half years old the last time Bafana Bafana secured their ticket to the FIFA World Cup through the qualifiers - which is why he's thrilled to be part of the team that played last night.

- MIHLALI BALEKA

Bafana are vying for a spot in the 2026 global showpiece, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

They are not far off from sealing their ticket, as they need to convincingly beat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers in Durban on Friday, and in Mbombela next Tuesday to boost their chances of finishing top of Group C.

With their rivals Benin, Nigeria, and Rwanda also set to play each other, expectations are high for the South Africans to reach the promised land for the first time since 2002, having only qualified for the 2010 edition as hosts.

Should Bafana achieve their goal, it would be a dream come true for coach Hugo Broos and his squad many of whom were toddlers during the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, including right-back Matuludi, who was just two and a half years old at the time.