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Siphiwe Tshabalala
South Africa v Mexico
South Africa 2010 | Group A
Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg
The hosts would be humiliated. That was the consensus when South Africa were drawn alongside 1998 champions and 2006 runners-up France, two-time champions Uruguay and knockout-phase regulars Mexico.
South Africans didn’t believe the script. They packed into Soccer City, blowing their vuvuzelas, making for an electric atmosphere. Tshabalala thundered the decibel levels to volcanic proportions in the 55th minute.
Kagisho Dikgacoi played a one-two and then a palatial pass to set the 26-year-old winger flying through on goal. Tshabalala still had a lot to do, but he swung back his left leg and lashed the adidas Jabulani into the top corner of Oscar Perez’s net.
It sparked one of the most unforgettable celebrations in World Cup history. It also helped Bafana Bafana draw 1-1 in what proved to be an admirable campaign they finished with four points.
“When they announced the World Cup was coming to South Africa [in 2004], I was nowhere as a footballer,” Siphiwe Tshabalala told FIFA. “But I remember telling my friend, ‘I’ll be there in 2010, playing for Bafana Bafana’. It shows the power of positive thinking.”
