POLOKWANE City Thabang Matuludi is one of the new faces in the Bafana Bafana setup. | BackpagePix
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Thabang Matuludi was only two and a half years old the last time Bafana Bafana secured their ticket to the FIFA World Cup through the qualifiers — which is why he’s thrilled to be part of the team that could make history on Tuesday night.
Bafana are vying for a spot in the 2026 global showpiece, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
They are not far off from sealing their ticket, as they need to convincingly beat Zimbabwe and Rwanda in their final two qualifiers — in Durban on Friday, and in Mbombela next Tuesday — to boost their chances of finishing top of Group C.
With their rivals — Benin, Nigeria, and Rwanda — also set to play each other, expectations are high for the South Africans to reach the promised land for the first time since 2002, having only qualified for the 2010 edition as hosts.
Should Bafana achieve their goal, it would be a dream come true for coach Hugo Broos and his squad — many of whom were toddlers during the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, including right-back Matuludi, who was just two and a half years old at the time.
Matuludi has grown in leaps and bounds since 2002, rising to prominence at Polokwane City, where he marauds up and down the right flank with comfort and ease — almost like a man possessed.
But despite making a name for himself at Rise and Shine, his progress was temporarily stalled last season after he sustained a nasty injury, forcing him to sit out the latter part of the season and the early stages of the current campaign.
He has since fully recovered and worked his way back into the Bafana fold after impressing at club level.
The 26-year-old, widely regarded as the second-best right-back in the league behind Khuliso Mudau, is thrilled to be back in the national team setup — especially ahead of two crucial qualifiers that could prove historic for Bafana. That’s why he’s eager to seize the opportunity with both hands.
“I think the injury was a huge setback for me, given the form I was in at that moment,” Matuludi revealed. The defender has also attracted interest in recent months from the country’s ‘big three’ — Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, and Mamelodi Sundowns.
“But because I’ve fully recovered, I’m happy. I think this opportunity I’ve been given (to rejoin the national team) is a huge moment for my career.”
Matuludi also shared what helped him stay motivated during the recovery process — a time that can take a heavy mental toll on players.
“When I sustained the injury, it was difficult for me. But I eventually had to accept that I was injured, and tell myself that I was going to recover eventually,” Matuludi said. “I think rehab also helped me a lot because I was able to do it on time.”
Matuludi has every reason to dream of becoming a permanent fixture in the Bafana setup — not just leading up to AFCON in Morocco later this year, but potentially all the way to the World Cup.
Coach Broos has consistently stated that he’ll reward outstanding performances, regardless of whether a player comes from a big club or a so-called "small team."
True to his word, he called up Matuludi’s former teammate Oswin Appollis for the last continental showpiece, where Bafana earned a podium finish for the first time in more than a decade — a feat that motivated the players at Polokwane.
“I think his (Appollis’) consistent call-ups to the Bafana setup while he was still part of our team really motivated us. He’s someone who got the chance and grabbed it with both hands,” Matuludi said. “So, yeah, I think that helped us a lot.”
POLOKWANE City Thabang Matuludi is one of the new faces in the Bafana Bafana setup. | BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
POLOKWANE City Thabang Matuludi is one of the new faces in the Bafana Bafana setup. | BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
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