Thembi Kgatlana put South Africa into the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time with their added-time goal in a 3-2 win over Italy. After the game on Wednesday (08/02/2023) she let her feelings run free – and then reported on personal strokes of fate.
In the minutes after the final whistle, heartbreaking scenes unfolded on the pitch at Wellington Regional Stadium. While the Italians sat disappointed and sad in the drizzle on the wet ground and struggled to regain their composure after the World Cup, the players of “Banyana Banyana” sang, jumped and cheered across the pitch and the fans danced in the stands. They gave free rein to their joy at the sensational and historic success for South Africa. With the last-minute victory, they had pushed Italy out of second place in their preliminary round group and made their big dream of reaching the round of 16 a reality.
“Without you we are nothing!”
But the cameras of the international TV picture directors kept panning from the cheering scenes on the field and in the stands to near the halfway line. There, match winner Thembi Kgatlana knelt and cried with her head bowed, she seemed to have nothing to do with the jubilation around her. Teammates crouched down, hugged the 27-year-old, stroked her back and head, and one of them whispered: “Without you we are nothing!”
“It’s such an emotional moment for me”
It was only minutes later that the scorer of the 3-2 winner, which she scored on a Hildah Magaia cross in the second of 16 added minutes, got up off the pitch. And slowly a cautious smile mingled on her face. In the television interview, Kgatlana then gave a glimpse into her turbulent emotional world: “It’s such an emotional moment for me.”
In the last three weeks I have lost three family members. I could have flown home but I decided to stay with my team. That’s what it means to me.
Ten months break after ruptured Achilles tendon
The 27-year-old former Atletico Madrid forward, who was included in Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 list in April, had previously endured a long personal ordeal. Last year she tore her Achilles tendon at the Africa Cup of Nations and it was only before the World Cup that she finally returned to the field after a ten-month break for her club Racing Lousville in the USA.
“I’m back from my serious injury, I’m playing for my country and for every girl who wanted to be here to make history for South Africa,” said Kgatlana, who had previously scored in the 2-2 win against Argentina.
Proud and happy about the sporting success
In her second appearance at the World Cup against Italy, she wore the captain’s armband in place of the injured captain Refiloe Jane, pushed ahead with full commitment and then scored the acclaimed winner shortly before the end. “We played to make history for South Africa. Each of us deserves it, it was a team win. Everyone is happy – and so am I.”
Minutes later, with the South African flag wrapped around her waist, the striker was standing in the crowd, snapping photos, signing autographs and giving both thumbs up. The pride on her face about the sensational sporting success was unmistakable.
“We have nothing to lose as underdogs”
On Sunday (August 6th, 2023, 4 a.m. CEST, in the live stream at sportschau.de) Kgatlana will again give everything for the “Banyana Banyana” when the round of 16 takes place in Sydney against the overwhelming favorites from the Netherlands. Then what the 27-year-old said after the game against Italy applies: “We have nothing to lose. The others have more pressure, we are the outsiders.” That role seems to suit Kgatlana and her team.
2023-08-02 16:04:05
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