Aaron Mokoena has had a season with many highs and lows.
The South African team captain endured the uncertainty surrounding the financial future of his English Premier League club Portsmouth; he was instrumental in his side beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the semifinals of the FA Cup; played in the cup final which they lost 1-0 to Chelsea; and then saw his club relegated.
But on Friday, the 29-year-old made history by leading his South African teammates in the first-ever World Cup match played on African soil.
And although the Group A encounter in Johannesburg’s against Mexico ended in a 1-1 draw, Mokoena said he was happy with the result.
“It is good that we started today with a draw, not a defeat, and we have got to build on this. The Mexicans are a very dangerous team to play against. I am keen to see what they will be doing in their next two games,” he said. Mokoena, who became the first South African player to earn 100 caps when he played in the national side’s warm-up game against Guatemala, saw Bafana Bafana extend their unbeaten run to 13 games thanks to a good performance against Mexico. “We have done well in the preparation games, we have worked so hard and I think we are being rewarded for that,” he said.
Mokoena is fully aware of the historical significance of captaining the hosts at this World Cup.
“I would be lying if I said there was no pressure. There is always pressure when your wear the national jersey and there is always pressure when you play in the World Cup,” he said.