Bafana were really missing their mentor, Madiba who led them to a paradise of colors without walls but the frail mighty heart Nelson Mandela was not at the kick of ceremony of the first match of the greatest sports event of the world for death of his grand daughter Zenani Mandela.
In the absence of the greatest hero from the Soccer City, Bafana looked towards their coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and whole African nation took him as a man who would repeat his miracle of 1994 when he brought Brazil the World Cup.
Bofana started off well when Sisphiwe Tshabalala scored a superb goal bringing pandemonium to the Soccer City but it was Rafael Marquez’s short corner attempt that denied the Soweto the biggest party ever celebrated at its land.
Bafana were closer to snatch an opening win but Bernard Parker hit ended in the foot of the post at the stoppage time.
Bafana has now to beat either Uruguay or France to qualify for the next round, but they did well coming out equal in the opening match in the absence of their Madiba who would have served as a catalyst for them if present.
Bafana Bafana no doubt played well in the opening game but they were also caught cold be the brilliant Mexican performance. Bafana were showing a great confidence during warm up but they perhaps forgot to mask their nerves in the heat of domestic crowd pressure.