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Cape Town - Sports minister Fikile Mbalula will not apologise for his scathing comments that Bafana Bafana are a "bunch of losers".
Mbalula shocked the sporting fraternity on Monday when he slammed Bafana after they were eliminated from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after losing 3-1 to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium.
"What I saw there was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers, who don't have any respect for this country and don't have any respect for anybody," Mbalula told a packed media conference in Cape Town on Monday.
"That goalkeeper (Moeneeb Josephs), he was playing with the team, but he added up a whole lot of mess.
"The second goal... the goalkeeper commits a penalty, alone, single-handedly, and without being assisted by anybody," Mbalula said.
"I love Moeneeb Josephs but I don't know what was going on with him yesterday (Sunday)... that is a total disgrace, a performance like that.
"I saw outside, people were lining up to greet them (Bafana Bafana).
"I'll never greet them, I did not even go to the dressing room, I did not even call them.
"To me, that was a disaster."
Mbalula's comments sparked an outrage on social media sites, with some calling him to retract his statement and apologise. The Democratic Alliance also labelled Mbalula's comments as "utterly disgraceful".
However, according to Tuesday's Cape Times, the minister will not apologise.
Mbalula's spokesperson, Paena Galane, said there is nothing to withdraw and that the country has had enough of Bafana's poor performances.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Should a name change for Bafana be up for discussion. Or are there far more important issues that need to be attended to? Send your thoughts to Sport24 or login to Sport24's Forum to join the debate!
Mbalula shocked the sporting fraternity on Monday when he slammed Bafana after they were eliminated from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) after losing 3-1 to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium.
"What I saw there was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers, who don't have any respect for this country and don't have any respect for anybody," Mbalula told a packed media conference in Cape Town on Monday.
"That goalkeeper (Moeneeb Josephs), he was playing with the team, but he added up a whole lot of mess.
"The second goal... the goalkeeper commits a penalty, alone, single-handedly, and without being assisted by anybody," Mbalula said.
"I love Moeneeb Josephs but I don't know what was going on with him yesterday (Sunday)... that is a total disgrace, a performance like that.
"I saw outside, people were lining up to greet them (Bafana Bafana).
"I'll never greet them, I did not even go to the dressing room, I did not even call them.
"To me, that was a disaster."
Mbalula's comments sparked an outrage on social media sites, with some calling him to retract his statement and apologise. The Democratic Alliance also labelled Mbalula's comments as "utterly disgraceful".
However, according to Tuesday's Cape Times, the minister will not apologise.
Mbalula's spokesperson, Paena Galane, said there is nothing to withdraw and that the country has had enough of Bafana's poor performances.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Should a name change for Bafana be up for discussion. Or are there far more important issues that need to be attended to? Send your thoughts to Sport24 or login to Sport24's Forum to join the debate!
