Sithole grateful for second chance as Bafana eye World Cup return

The refrain “I thank God” has been uttered so may times before by footballers – and sports stars in general – that you wonder when it's really heartfelt or just another cliché.

Yet, when Sphephelo Sithole said it, you knew he was not just regurgitating a phrase he had picked up from watching post-match interviews. This was a man truly grateful for his faith; a man thankful for a second chance; a man aware that it could well have ended a year ago.

Back in the Bafana Bafana squad for the first time since he was stretchered off the pitch in South Sudan in September 2024, the man fondly referred to as Yaya could understandably not hide his delight.

“I thank God for the opportunity he has given me to play football again because with the injury I got, I thought it was the end of my career,” the 26-year-old said.

It was that serious an injury, the man from Ulundi having fractured his tibia and fibula. Because of that, he has been watching Bafana from a distance as they clinched a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations finals set for Morocco and inch ever so closer to the country’s first qualification for the Fifa World Cup in 24 years.

Painful as it was not being part of the squad he’d become such an integral part of, Sithole has kept in close contact with his teammates, encouraging them and cheering them on from a distance as they worked their way to the top of Group C.

“It was tough mentally. If you are injured you cannot do anything; you cannot help the team. The only thing you can do is support the guys and be with them by communicating through WhatsApp. That’s what I did. I was supportive while I was away and they did good.”

The man who plays for CD Tondela in Portugal added: “Fortunately, I am back here and with the team.

"It’s good to be back, the spirit (in the camp) is very good. The guys were doing well when I was away and I was always watching them and they were winning. I am very proud to be back in the team again.”

With the team having done well in his absence, Sithole could well watch from the bench on Friday when Bafana take on Zimbabwe at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium. But you can bet he will be just as much a part of the team as he was on the pitch.

Sithole and his teammates are aware of the enormity of the clash against their neighbours.

“We had a meeting and we spoke about this match amongst ourselves and we know that this game against Zimbabwe is do or die. We have to win it if we really want to go to the World Cup. Everyone is prepared and we have to win it, no matter what.”

The desire to end the country’s 24-year World Cup qualification drought will be the driving force behind Bafana when they step onto the famous Durban venue.

“We want to make the country proud. We have not qualified to go to the World Cup for the last 24 years and it is a chance for us to go to the World Cup now. We are going to ask the supporters to come and support us in their numbers because this is a big match for the country and it will also make them happy when we qualify.”

The fact that Zimbabwe are winless in their qualifying campaign is not going to get Bafana into a complacent mode.

“We don’t want to take this game lightly, we also don’t want to feel too relaxed. We are trying to be balanced. The mood is great, everyone who gets the call-up is more than happy to be part of the team and play.”

In this current squad, there is probably no one happier than Sithole.