Teboho Mokoena opens up on his toughest period at Mamelodi Sundowns! | OneFootball

Teboho Mokoena opens up on his toughest period at Mamelodi Sundowns!

Teboho Mokoena has come out candidly about the overwhelming turmoil he faced after the eligibility saga that saw Bafana Bafana stripped of three crucial points in their World Cup qualifiers. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder found himself at the centre of a FIFA probe after he played against Lesotho in March while serving a suspension.

The points deduction dealt a heavy blow to South Africa’s World Cup hopes, especially after the frustrating goalless stalemate with Zimbabwe. Mokoena admitted the weight of expectation and doubt from the whole country hung over the squad as they prepared for the final do-or-die clash.

Still, he was quick to hail the calm presence of coach Hugo Broos during this storm. Mokoena shared that the coach maintained his composure in the tense days after the Zimbabwe result, bringing much-needed stability to the team. He called the entire six months the hardest stretch of his professional career.

This testing road ended in a resounding 3-0 triumph over Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium. That victory not only delivered the vital three points, but also booked their ticket to next year’s World Cup, with Bafana finishing top of Group C on 18 points.