Kaizer Chiefs fans have a strangely tense relationship with Bafana Bafana management. That has affected their World Cup habits.
Kaizer Chiefs fans shouted for Mexico
A significant proportion of Chiefs fans have said they’ll support Mexico because of a lack of Glamour Boys in the national setup. 25-year-old left-back Bradley Cross is the only Chiefs representative in the 2026 World Cup squad. However, he’s likely to be a bit-part player at the tournament hosted in the Americas.
‘We are Mexico, and Mexico is us’ is the sentiment pouring out of several chronically online Kaizer Chiefs fans. Whether they’re being 100% serious or it’s some tongue-in-cheek fun, it still points to a long-standing feud between the club and national team coach Hugo Broos. The real question is, how many Chiefs players warrant selection? And will fans now shout for the Czech Republic?
Bafana have work to do after an opening day shocker
Bafana Bafana opened Group A in disastrous fashion with a 2-0 defeat against Mexico on the opening day of the tournament, a match in which they saw two players get their marching orders from the referee. Red cards for Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane severely handicapped a team that was even struggling to create clear-cut chances when they had 11 men on the pitch, and both men will miss this upcoming meeting with the Czechs. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic lost 2-1 to South Korea despite taking the lead on 59 minutes in Group A’s other opening encounter. Thursday’s meeting between the Czech Republic and South Africa takes on extra significance now. Kickoff on 18 June is at 18:00 SA time.
Predicted Bafana XI vs the Czech Republic
Hugo Broos will likely need to ring the changes after a dismal result against Mexico. A change of shape might be the only way to get the players to come out of their shells, so Nkosinathi Sibisi might have to give way so that Bafana can deploy four at the back.
Williams; Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba; Mokoena, Adams; Appollis, Mofokeng, x; Foster.
