Record-breaking Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena wasn't shocked with the mid games the national team experienced in their 2-0 loss to Rwanda on Tuesday.
Bafana dropped points for the first time in their second 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Amavubi Wasp in trying conditions where the team played on a water-logged synthetic pitch.
READ | Rwanda hand Bafana first defeat in WC qualifiers
Mokoena, who experienced the off-field antics whenever he played on the continent with the national team admits that he expected it, and the current team should do the same going forward.
"I wasn't surprised at all. First, I said it in studio that every team that plays South African they try by all means, they try all the mind games to beat Bafana," Mokoena told GameON on Radio 2000.
"Sweeping the water off the field that's a mind game, that's where actually our boys needed to understand that when you play away anything is possible. Let's go back to Rulani what he experienced playing in these African countries.
"They would try all sort of tricks to buy the referee, complain to the referee that's exactly what happened today. There was water on the pitch, but they would sweep the water outside the pitch.
"There were no ball boys as well. It was so frustrating for the boys, but that's the mind games the boys need to be strong at times and understand that these tricks they do occur in our continent," he added. Mokoena remains the highest cap national team player with 105 appearances following his debut in 1999, and played at the country's last two FIFA World Cups and lamented the sloppy performance from the team against Rwanda.
"They looked heavy, they looked disjointed, so it was absolutely a bad, bad performance. The goals we conceded. I think they were giving aways and I really didn't enjoy it at all. Very disappointing," he said.
His last appearance for Bafana was at the 2010 World Cup on home soil, and since retiring have taken up roles such as assistant coach at DStv Premiership side Cape Town City two years ago.
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