In the first part of our new series, we take a look at the goal that has played on loop in our heads and on TV channels for the last decade.
consumed essentially every aspect of our lives. South Africa would host the biggest spectacle our planet has to offer — 3.2-billion scrutinising eyes pinned on our young democracy. At stake was far more than glory on a football pitch: it was our moment to advertise our country to a global audience, show off how far we had come since entering the international arena once again. Then, just as soon as it arrived, it was all over.
“There was not much time to think because the speed on the ball was very fast and I was going fast as well,” Tshabalala recalls now, a decade later. “But I knew that the keeper was off his line. At first I thought of just lobbing it over, but on second thought I just unleashed a powerful shot. I connected well with the ball, the technique was perfect … everything was perfect.
“Tshabalalaaa!” he screamed in a pronunciation not as half-arsed as the usual fare from his British colleagues. “Goal, Bafana Bafana! Goal for South Africa. Goal for all Africa. Jabulela, rejoice.” “It was bound to happen. The confidence was there, the belief was there,” he says. “Even before the game I knew if I was to score, this is the celebration. Hence everything just happened as though it was planned. We used to practice the celebration in training. We knew that moment was going to come.”
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