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Johannesburg – South African football fans have come out in support for Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.
"Khune you rock", was one of the messages of support sent out to Khune on Thursday after the dramatic turn of events at the national team's game with Uruguay.
"Hi Khune, I am sure you did not trip the guy on purpose. Maybe he fell on purpose. Don't give up now," a loyal fan wrote on News24.
Uruguay had already scored one goal when Khune was red carded and went on to score two more to defeat Bafana Bafana 3-0 on Wednesday night.
Khune left the field in tears. Although he has since said he respects the referee's decision, he maintains that: "I went for the ball".
Vuvuzelas absent
Shattered South Africans stilled their vuvuzelas. The usual pre-dawn blasts from the now world famous plastic trumpets were notably absent on Thursday.
However, instead of being angry with Khune and the team, many fans sympathised.
"You are the man, you are the best and we haven't lost faith in you and Bafana Bafana. We're sorry and hope the best for you. Go Bafana, Go. You can do it," a person named Fats wrote on the same site.
Amid consensus among armchair coaches that Bafana Bafana were "outclassed" and complaints about referee Massimo Basacca, fans were optimistically recalculating what it would take for Bafana Bafana to stay in the tournament when they play France next week.
Worried that the home team's misfortune could dampen spirits for the rest of the tournament, the government issued a statement on Thursday asking South Africans to continue to be "good hosts".
Not time to pull back
"We are still in the initial stages of the tournament. And this is not the time to pull back, regardless of the disappointment we may feel after Bafana Bafana’s loss to Uruguay on 16 June 2010."
Satire site hayibo wrote: "Following South Africa’s decisive 3-0 loss to Uruguay in their second game of the World Cup last night, a nation united by grief has unanimously voted to adopt the Swiss referee as official scapegoat.
"The other option was (Uruguayan footballer) Diego Forlan," explained Bafana Supporters’ Association chairperson Revenge Madoda. "But we believe that man has very powerful muti in his alice-band that we don’t want to be messing with."
They jokingly said the reason fans showed poor "spectator etiquette" by leaving early, was because they had arranged to get a lift home with Khune.
"He has a sweet, pimped-up kombi and you know what it’s like, when your lift leaves, you have to leave too."
"Khune you rock", was one of the messages of support sent out to Khune on Thursday after the dramatic turn of events at the national team's game with Uruguay.
"Hi Khune, I am sure you did not trip the guy on purpose. Maybe he fell on purpose. Don't give up now," a loyal fan wrote on News24.
Uruguay had already scored one goal when Khune was red carded and went on to score two more to defeat Bafana Bafana 3-0 on Wednesday night.
Khune left the field in tears. Although he has since said he respects the referee's decision, he maintains that: "I went for the ball".
Vuvuzelas absent
Shattered South Africans stilled their vuvuzelas. The usual pre-dawn blasts from the now world famous plastic trumpets were notably absent on Thursday.
However, instead of being angry with Khune and the team, many fans sympathised.
"You are the man, you are the best and we haven't lost faith in you and Bafana Bafana. We're sorry and hope the best for you. Go Bafana, Go. You can do it," a person named Fats wrote on the same site.
Amid consensus among armchair coaches that Bafana Bafana were "outclassed" and complaints about referee Massimo Basacca, fans were optimistically recalculating what it would take for Bafana Bafana to stay in the tournament when they play France next week.
Worried that the home team's misfortune could dampen spirits for the rest of the tournament, the government issued a statement on Thursday asking South Africans to continue to be "good hosts".
Not time to pull back
"We are still in the initial stages of the tournament. And this is not the time to pull back, regardless of the disappointment we may feel after Bafana Bafana’s loss to Uruguay on 16 June 2010."
Satire site hayibo wrote: "Following South Africa’s decisive 3-0 loss to Uruguay in their second game of the World Cup last night, a nation united by grief has unanimously voted to adopt the Swiss referee as official scapegoat.
"The other option was (Uruguayan footballer) Diego Forlan," explained Bafana Supporters’ Association chairperson Revenge Madoda. "But we believe that man has very powerful muti in his alice-band that we don’t want to be messing with."
They jokingly said the reason fans showed poor "spectator etiquette" by leaving early, was because they had arranged to get a lift home with Khune.
"He has a sweet, pimped-up kombi and you know what it’s like, when your lift leaves, you have to leave too."
