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Ditch Bafana, let's go with...

Cape Town - Sport24 readers have proposed new names for the national football team after their disappointing 2014 CHAN campaign.

South Africa are considering getting rid of the Bafana Bafana nickname their national team have been tagged with for decades and introducing a new strip as they seek to turn a new chapter.

The popular nickname, a Zulu expression that closely translates as 'the lads', has been a popular moniker for the side from soon after South Africa's return to the international arena in 1992 after decades of Apartheid enforced isolation.

But South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan, speaking after the country were knocked out of the African Nations Championship tournament on home soil, said a new name for the team would be sought.

"We must consider changing the name and we have to review the preparations, the philosophy and technical staff of the team," he told a press conference on Monday heralding a possible sacking of coach Gordon Igesund after a loss to Nigeria.

Team nicknames are popular throughout Africa. Among the better known are reigning African champions Nigeria - the Super Eagles; Egypt's Pharaohs and the Elephants from Ivory Coast.

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!

Here are some name suggestions from Sport24 readers:

"Eish, what is in a name ????.....can I suggest we call them Madiba Boys ? Lol!" - Timmy Khethane

"Bathetic Bathetic" - Grant Wright

"Ama Clowns." - Eric Coakelin

"Name change long overdue, too close to banana-banana.There is no pride in the name." - Margie Rensburg

"Haaai, just change it to Banana - like the Republic..." - OMN Basso

"AmaBokoBoko." - Figure of Speech

"The Mighty Rhinos!" - Unathi Singatha

"Mampara Mampara." - Mikey Scholtz

"Amarubbish." - Eckhardt Piprek

"Balosers Balosers." - FRancois G Pienaar

"The rainbow gemsbokke." - John Lebitso

"Banana Banana's :) they slip up everytime." - Kobus Hattingh

"Ama footsi Footsi...." - Jammi Jamneck

"Chokers." - Matheus Reginals

"Babokke Babokke." - Nel Van Der Westhuizen

"I THINK WE SHOULD CALL THEM 'THE MADIBAS'." - Khosti Amasindi Murivhame

"Afkophoeners." - MR

"Bafumble Bafumble."- Manyaka

"I suggest "Zero zero" because they do nothing on the pitch." - Mliks Mchunu

"The Black Rhinos." - Mabhakabhaka

"How about 'Rainbow Kings'?" - Simphiwe Masimula\

"Let's call them the black eagles." - Themba

"I think the better name is golden cows." - Paul Motaung

"Springboks! We have won 2 world cups with that name!" - Jaoa das Nevas

"Raging bulls of south africa." - Yaseen Box

"Bunch of losers will do for now." - Nhlakanipho


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